Appointing
\nambassadors<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
Allow me to respond to Raswari's article in this paper of
\nMarch 7, 2003, titled Stop appointing pensioners as envoys In
\nthat article, he alleged that the foreign ministry was one of the
\nmost corrupt, wasteful and rotten of all ministries.<\/p>\n
I don't know how Raswari could arrive at that conclusion, as
\nthe audit in the second semester of 2002 budget year carried out
\nby the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) did not include the foreign
\nministry on the list of government institutions, agencies, or
\nenterprises allegedly involved in corruption.<\/p>\n
As for Raswari's allegation that the foreign ministry could do
\nnothing in helping the state to deal with the monetary crisis, it
\nmust be borne in mind that the restoration of Indonesia's image
\n-- or image-building in general -- is not something that can be
\nachieved overnight.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's image abroad relies heavily on the country's
\ninternal state of affairs. However hard a diplomat may try to
\nsell the image of his country abroad, he will fail to persuade
\nhis \"audience\" if the domestic situation is not conducive to it.
\nRemember, the world is very transparent today.<\/p>\n
As the world is increasingly unified and becoming more
\ncomplicated, diplomacy is no longer the monopoly of diplomats.
\nThe community also plays a role in this regard. Hence the term
\n\"multi-track\" diplomacy. The foreign ministry is aware of the
\npublic demand and is therefore, after restructuring the ministry
\nitself, now restructuring Indonesia's representative offices.<\/p>\n
Under Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, the ministry is
\nimplementing its main action program of making Indonesia's
\nrepresentative offices and the staff of Indonesian embassies more
\nprofessional.<\/p>\n
The restructuring of the offices is expected to be completed
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
As for the assertion that an ambassadorial position is a gift
\nfor a retired state official or one about to retire, it should be
\nexplained here that an envoy is a political appointee and that it
\nis the prerogative of the president to appoint someone as an
\nenvoy.<\/p>\n
M. WAHID SUPRIYADI
\nInformation
\nand Media Director
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs
\nJakarta<\/p>",
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