Diplomatic gaffe<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government's decision to withdraw the
\nnomination of Lt. General (Ret.) Mantiri as Indonesia's next
\nAmbassador to Australia is a wise and right one, though a little
\ntoo late. The brouhaha preceding the withdrawal may have slowly
\ndied down, but it has suddenly presented an ugly contortion on
\nthe otherwise broad smiling face which has marked the
\nincreasingly closer relations between the two neighboring
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic Relations of 1963,
\nthe receiving government may refuse a nominated ambassador
\nwithout giving the reasons. But the rejection is normally
\nnotified to the sending government in a strictly confidential
\nway. This business of nomination, from the start to the decision
\nof the receiving government on the nominated ambassador should be
\nhandled or managed with utmost care.<\/p>\n
I presume that the unnecessary hubbub surrounding the
\nrejection has been caused by the clumsy handling or management of
\nthe matter somewhere along the line. We should not look for a
\nscapegoat, however. We all know that the selection of ambassadors
\nis a difficult and many times sensitive business because
\ncandidates may be equally good but the one selected may be
\nunacceptable to the receiving government. Therefore, the
\nselection of nominees should be made with utmost care,
\nparticularly when it concerns persons with antecedents of
\nsupposedly politically sensitive nature.<\/p>\n
Australian newspapers may have benefited from the \"diplomatic
\nincident\". Certain elements, for whatever reasons, may wish the
\nbilateral relations to sour, and the so-called anti-integration
\ngroups chuckle with pleasure. Hopefully, the incident won't
\ndamage the growing and increasingly closer relations of the two
\ncountries. Australia is so far the largest foreign investor in
\nIndonesia, its value amounting to US$3.4 billion. The Timor Gap
\nAgreement of 1991, should be an auspicious symbol not only of
\nmutually beneficial partnership, but also of mutual trust. It
\ncertainly should attest to the sincere desire of both sides to
\nbuild a strong and more sustained foundation for rich and lasting
\ncooperation based on mutual respect.<\/p>\n
Clumsily or not, to suggest publicly that a person nominated
\nfor ambassadorship apologize for words he uttered as the
\ncondition for accepting to his nomination is indeed very
\nundiplomatic, and very regrettable. The words uttered concerned
\nan incident, though regrettable, in a town of a province which
\nAustralia recognizes as part of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The demand for apology could be construed as interference in a
\nthe domestic affairs of Indonesia. This affair put in question,
\nif not in doubt, the consistency and sincerity of the policy of
\nAustralia as regards East Timor.<\/p>\n
It is always good to remember that the untimely and premature
\n\"leakage\" of the names of persons nominated for ambassadorship
\nshould be avoided. Non-sensical, far-fetched? I do not think so.
\nThe seemingly innocent \"leakage\" can sometimes spell disaster.<\/p>\n
SOEGIO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/diplomatic-gaffe-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }