Indonesia a second home to me: Outgoing Tunisian envoy<\/p>\n
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many people in Indonesia may not knowing exactly where Tunisia
\nis, but everybody knows Tunisian dates -- which are delicious and
\na must during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
\"We export our dates to Indonesia and other Asian countries.
\nIndonesia, the country with the world's largest Muslim
\npopulation, is one of our biggest date markets in the world.
\nOur top exporters visit Indonesia twice a year and supply dates
\nto Indonesian traders,\" Tunisia's Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed
\nMouldi Kefi told The Jakarta Post in an interview at his
\nresidence in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
As Tunisian date producers make preparations to export to
\nIndonesia for this year's Ramadhan, ironically Ambassador Kefi is
\nleaving Indonesia, a country he says he has fallen in love with,
\non Tuesday after the completion of his assignment.<\/p>\n
Ramadhan begins in the first week of October.<\/p>\n
Tunisia, the so-called Singapore of the African continent, has
\na dynamic economy which has been growing by around 5 percent for
\nmore than 15 years. Around 98 percent of its population are
\nMuslims.<\/p>\n
\"Ours is a Muslim state, which bans polygamy and Islamic
\npolitical parties. Ours is a tolerant, open and modern society,\"
\nKefi said.<\/p>\n
In order to promote gender equality, the Tunisian government
\naffords rights to women that are unmatched in any other Arab
\nstate.<\/p>\n
Kefi, who arrived in Indonesia in November 2002 and submitted
\nhis credentials to then president Megawati Soekarnoputri on Jan.
\n16, 2003, has some big praise for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Ever since I arrived here, and to this day, I never felt that
\nI was living in a foreign country. I almost feel at home. The
\nIndonesian people are so kind. I always remember their kindness
\nand smiles,\" said Kefi, an adept career diplomat who has 38 years
\nexperience in various countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Tunisia, a North African as well as Maghreb
\nstate with 10 million people, have so many similarities in many
\naspects. Both are countries of great cultural diversity and
\nmelting pots for different civilizations and cultures.<\/p>\n
\"I think both Indonesia and Tunisia can be labeled as places
\nwhere living is enjoyable. I enjoyed my stay in this beautiful
\ncountry during this short period,\" said Kefi, who has a master's
\ndegree in philosophy from the University of Strasbourg, France.<\/p>\n
Kefi has also advice for his foreign colleagues in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"If you like Indonesia and its people, please don't stay too
\nlong. The longer you stay, the harder it will be for you to leave
\nyour beloved Indonesian brothers and sisters behind. Thank God! I
\nmust be thankful to Allah for giving me a chance to live in
\nIndonesia during the final days of my career,\" Kefi, who will
\nturn 60 next February, said.<\/p>\n
As far as Tunisia's relations with Indonesia are concerned,
\nKefi described them as warm and cordial.<\/p>\n
\"Our relations with Indonesia are growing strongly and
\nsteadily. During our independence struggle, Indonesia was a
\nstaunch supporter of our cause. Indonesia was one of the few
\ncountries that immediately recognized Tunisia when we became
\nindependent in 1956 from the French,\" said Kefi, who is married
\nto Dagmar Kefi from the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n
Both countries have \"excellent\" cooperation at the political
\nlevel.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's first president Sukarno visited Tunisia, and
\nSoeharto also did so in 1992. Megawati came to Tunis in 2003.
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono accompanied Megawati to
\nTunisia in his capacity as the coordinating minister and met our
\nPresident Ben Ali (President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali). Our Prime
\nMinister Mohamed Ghaunouchi participated in the Asian-African
\nSummit in Jakarta in April 2005. All these visits reflect our
\nstrong political relations,\" said Kefi, who has been conferred
\nwith Tunisia's Knight of the Order title for his services for the
\ncountry., said.<\/p>\n
Despite the strong political relations, Kefi said Tunisia
\nneeded to boost its ties with Indonesia in the trade, tourism,
\nculture and education sectors.<\/p>\n
\"Because, our two-way trade is just US$70 million. There is
\nbig room for improvement given both countries' potentials,\" Kefi
\nsaid, while mentioning a memorandum of understanding between
\nBatam and similar free trade zones in Tunisia.<\/p>\n
Tunisia is a gateway to Northern African countries and the
\nEuropean Union (EU).<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian investors can establish businesses in our free
\ntrade zones and reexport their goods to the EU countries tax
\nfree. This is possible because Tunisia signed an Association
\nAgreement with the EU in 1995,\" Kefi said.<\/p>\n
Kefi, who loves classical music, walking, swimming and playing
\nchess, began his career in 1965, not as a diplomat but as a
\nteacher.<\/p>\n
\"After working as a teacher for two years, I came to the
\nconclusion that it was not my calling. I wanted to see the world.
\nThat's why I began learning the English and German languages
\nand joined the foreign service in 1967,\" said Kefi, who speaks
\nArabic, French, English, Czech, German, Russian and some
\nIndonesian, while alluding to the saying that if you wish to
\nreach the highest, begin at the lowest.<\/p>\n
Kefi, who has four sons and two granddaughters, did the same
\nthing.<\/p>\n
\"I joined in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an attache, the
\nlowest rank in the ministry. Later, I became a second secretary,
\nfirst secretary, counselor and finally ambassador,\" Kefi said.<\/p>\n
His first foreign posting was Prague in 1971. He also worked
\nin Germany, Russia and Britain in various capacities. In 1990, he
\nbecame Tunisia's ambassador to Nigeria and to the Russian
\nFederation in 1996.<\/p>\n
\"This (posting in Indonesia) is my third ambassadorial
\nposting. I will be going back to Tunis with unforgettable
\nmemories of Indonesia,\" said Kefi, a diplomat as ever.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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