House screens ambassadorial nominees<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives began to screen on Monday 20
\nambassadorial nominees, with some legislators predicting the
\nthree-day process would see the elimination of more than one
\nforeign ministry official.<\/p>\n
Legislators have questioned what they say is an uneven balance
\nof foreign ministry officials versus nominees from outside the
\nministry.<\/p>\n
Of the 20, 17 are officials from the ministry. The other three
\nare former director general of defense strategy at the Ministry
\nof Defense Maj. Gen.(ret) Sudrajat, who has been nominated to
\ntake up the post in China and Mongolia; top Prosperous Justice
\nParty (PKS) executive Salim Segaf Al-Jufrie for Saudi Arabia and
\nlawmaker from the Democratic Party Irzan Tanjung for the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Legislator Djoko Susilo from the National Mandate Party (PAN),
\nsaid most of the nominees from the foreign ministry had mediocre
\ndiplomatic skills.<\/p>\n
\"Nothing stands out -- and they are not what we are looking
\nfor, that is to be a good salesman (for the country),\" he said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Djoko said some of the nominees were unfamiliar with the
\npolicymaking process.<\/p>\n
\"Some of them, including the ones who just had their
\npresentation, are incapable of comprehending a multi-track
\ndiplomacy ... that is to be actively in touch with the executive
\npower, civil organizations and the legislature,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he said, many of the nominees would soon be
\neligible for a pension, which could disturb their performance.<\/p>\n
Djoko said it was more than likely the House would reject a
\nfew of the nominees from the foreign ministry due to their
\nunimpressive track records.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, the president has eventually agreed with our
\nrecommendations, including if we rejected the nominees,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In accordance with the Constitution, the House screens
\nambassadorial nominees, and makes its recommendations to the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
A recommendation can either be a full endorsement, endorsement
\nbut for another destination country or rejection.<\/p>\n
Legislator Muhammad A.S. Hikam said several nominees,
\nparticularly from the foreign ministry, were not up to scratch.<\/p>\n
\"The possibility of rejection is are always there. We have
\nseveral parameters to grade the nominees, such as communication
\nskills, knowledge on the destination country and health,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Among the 20 nominees are those for posts in the United
\nStates, China, France, Australia and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
For the U.S. post, the nominee is Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat
\n-- former envoy for Australia and the present ministry
\nsecretary-general -- to replace Soemadi DM Brotodiningrat.<\/p>\n
For Australia, the nominee is Acehnese Teuku Mohammad Hamzah
\nThayeb who currently heads the ministry's directorate for East
\nAsia and the Pacific to replace Imron Cotan.<\/p>\n
Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa, who was active as
\na member of the Indonesian delegations in the United Nations and
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is nominated to fill
\nthe post in the UK.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-screens-ambassadorial-nominees-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}