Inadequate fund and skill impede envoys<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators identified more funding and
\ndiplomatic skill as the keys to help the foreign ministry improve
\nthe country's image.<\/p>\n
Abu Hasan Sazili from the Golkar-faction said yesterday that a
\nlack of funds often stops diplomats from informing people of the
\nIndonesian perspective.<\/p>\n
\"Diplomacy needs sufficient funds, thus these funds should
\nreceive proper attention,\" said the vice-chairman of the House of
\nRepresentative's Commission I on foreign policy and defense.<\/p>\n
According to Sazili, incidents like the recent spat between
\nIndonesia and Australia are due in part to a lack of
\nunderstanding of each other's culture and political systems.<\/p>\n
A more aggressive media and community campaign will hopefully
\ncurb future misunderstandings, he said.<\/p>\n
Preparing brochures and other media campaigns to inform the
\nworld of Indonesia's social and political stance takes money, he
\nstressed.<\/p>\n
The ministry of foreign affairs has allocated Rp 2.4 billion
\n(US$ 1.06 million) from the current state budget for external
\nrelations programs aimed at enhancing foreign ties in the
\npolitical, economic, social-cultural and technological fields.<\/p>\n
About Rp 875 million is appropriated to the \"promotion of
\nIndonesia's image\" under the directorate general for social and
\ncultural relations and foreign information.<\/p>\n
Apart from financial constraints, Sazili also touched on the
\nskill of Indonesian diplomats.<\/p>\n
\"We don't close our eyes to the fact that there are still some
\nof our diplomats who have performed their jobs poorly,\" he
\nremarked. He said the government must pay special attention to
\nthe problem.<\/p>\n
\"Although the appointment of ambassadors is a presidential
\nprerogative, we hope that higher quality people will be
\nassigned,\" he said, while noting the high standard of past
\nIndonesian ambassadors.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, chairperson of Commission I, joined in the call
\nfor better quality and more active diplomats.<\/p>\n
\"They are actually already active but it needs to be elevated
\nfurther. If we stagnate like this while others are improving,
\nthen it won't be balanced,\" the legislator from the United
\nDevelopment Party told The Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
Both Aisyah and Sazili were speaking after a closed hearing
\nwith the Indonesian charge d'affaires Zakaria Sumitamadja to get
\nfirst hand information of the recent Indonesian flag burning
\nincidents in Australia.<\/p>\n
Legislators said the hearing, usually open to the public even
\nat a ministerial level, was closed to the public on the request
\nof the government.<\/p>\n
The legislators said the nomination of a new ambassador to
\nAustralia was not discussed.<\/p>\n
Zakaria said that relations were not effected by Indonesia's
\nwithdrawal of nominee Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.B.L. Mantiri.<\/p>\n
Zakaria also rejected rumors that he would be nominated as the
\nnext ambassador.<\/p>\n
\"There's no such thing as a second man becoming number one,\"
\nhe retorted.<\/p>\n
Putting aside the question of a civilian or military
\ncandidate, Zakaria said the main quality for any nominee is the
\nability to bridge the interests of both countries. (mds)<\/p>",
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