Ambassador Smith thrives on variety challenges<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Changes and challenges are as common for those
\nworking in the foreign service as the congested morning ride to
\nwork is for most Jakartans.<\/p>\n
While some loathe continual shifts, others thrive on new
\npersonal and professional challenges.<\/p>\n
Canada's new Ambassador to Jakarta Gary J. Smith admitted he
\nthrives on variety.<\/p>\n
"What I like most about the foreign service is that you keep
\nchanging locality and subjects," he told The Jakarta Post, adding
\n"some people like stability...I like change."<\/p>\n
"I am not the sort of person who would like to go to the same
\nplace of work, riding the same bus," he remarked.<\/p>\n
He recently presented his credentials to President Soeharto to
\nbegin his term here as ambassador replacing Lawrence Dickenson.<\/p>\n
Smith is a career diplomat whose credentials include a stint
\nas director general for the Asia and Pacific branch of the
\nCanadian foreign ministry.<\/p>\n
He has served in a number of posts -- Moscow, Tel Aviv, New
\nDelhi -- and most recently in Bonn where he was deputy ambassador
\nbetween 1989 to 1993.<\/p>\n
Apparently Smith was "hooked" on international affairs at a
\nyoung age. "I joined the foreign service 11-days after I wrote my
\nlast exam in university," he said.<\/p>\n
Smith graduated with honors in political science and economics
\nfrom York University. This past year he was a fellow at Harvard
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
"The matters that I deal with everyday are the matters that
\nare on the front pages of newspapers," Smith said describing his
\noccupation.<\/p>\n
Apart from improved commercial ties, Smith places increased
\nmutual awareness as a priority here.<\/p>\n
"I would like to see a much better understanding of Indonesia
\nwithin Canada, and a much better recognition within Indonesia of
\nCanada," he said.<\/p>\n
Smith's priorities are apt as mutual knowledge is limited
\ndespite over 40-years of ties.<\/p>\n
This is in part due to Canada's history of paying closer
\nattention to commonwealth countries. It is also due to
\nIndonesia's tardiness in making Canadians aware of the country.<\/p>\n
An immediate challenge for Ambassador Smith will be improving
\nties between Jakarta and Ottawa which have soured in the past
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
A mild diplomatic rift erupted when Ottawa expressed criticism
\nof Indonesia's Ambassador to Ottawa Benjamin Parwoto's alleged
\nintimidation of Theresa Galhos in East Timor.<\/p>\n
While on a visit here in January, Parwoto went to Dili to meet
\nwith Theresa and allegedly urged her to stop her daughter
\nholding anti-Indonesian activities in Canada.<\/p>\n
Though the rift has publicly cooled, sources have said Ottawa
\nmight wish to see Parwoto quickly removed.<\/p>\n
Smith, when asked, gave a diplomatic answer: "It is our goal
\nand objective to expand our relationship with Indonesia, and in
\norder to do that we need both an effective embassy here and an
\neffective embassy there."<\/p>\n
While the bilateral relationship is on the whole very good,
\nSmith admits "there are bound, within a vast and deep
\nrelationship, to be issues we will disagree on."<\/p>\n
These issues include East Timor and democratization: areas
\nwhere Smith says Jakarta and Ottawa "have some differing
\nperspectives."<\/p>\n
Having prepared himself well, Smith claims there have been no
\nmajor surprises in the two months of living here. His only lament
\nis the traffic.<\/p>\n
"When you come with delegations and particularly with prime
\nministers, you are able to travel through the city rather
\nquickly," Smith said.<\/p>\n
Aside from that "it is very much as I expected it would be,
\nand that is why I wanted to come."<\/p>\n
Having visited Jakarta several times before with diplomatic
\ndelegations, Smith said his aim is now to see more of Indonesia
\nwith his wife, Laurielle.<\/p>\n
"My problem is where I should go first and how I am going to
\nvisit 17,000 islands in three to four years," he quipped.<\/p>\n
During his free time Smith likes to play tennis, golf, go
\nhorseback riding and tries to swim every morning.<\/p>\n
"I've joined JAGA," he said referring to the Jakarta
\nAmbassadors Golf Association, adding "a lot of business can get
\ndone on a golf course." (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambassador-smith-thrives-on-variety-challenges-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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