Indonesia has no plans to close embassies yet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs so far has no
\nplans to shut down any Indonesian representative office abroad
\nbut admits that the severe depreciation of the dollar will
\nseverely effect diplomatic activities.<\/p>\n
\"With an exchange rate of Rp 8,000 against the dollar (latest
\nrate Wednesday), the value of funds allocated for our overseas
\nrepresentatives will drop more than 50 percent,\" Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Ali Alatas told journalists after a breaking of
\nthe fast ceremony Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
The minister hinted that the ministry did not have any plan to
\nclose any of its 111 representative offices. \"We will even open
\nnew embassies in Lima, Peru, and in Doha, Qatar,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Legislator Muchsin Bafadal of the United Development Party
\nfaction has suggested the government reduce the number of
\nIndonesian diplomatic missions abroad to reduce U.S. dollar
\nspending.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' secretary-general
\nAbdul Irsan, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the ministry
\nwould consider downsizing its diplomatic operations abroad.<\/p>\n
\"We will hold a meeting today (yesterday) to discuss the
\nissue,\" Irsan said.<\/p>\n
About 600 Indonesian diplomats are currently posted abroad.<\/p>\n
The 1998\/1999 draft budget, presented to the House of
\nRepresentatives Tuesday, allocates Rp 1.34 trillion to the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs for routine expenditures.<\/p>\n
It will receive an additional Rp 12.88 billion classified
\nunder development expenditure which will be used to counter
\nnegative issues on Indonesia, including human rights and the East
\nTimor issue.<\/p>\n
Last year, the government allocated Rp 961 million for routine
\nexpenditures and Rp 49 billion for development expenses. However,
\nthe value of the rupiah at the time was still about 2,400 against
\nthe U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
\"This crisis may be a blessing in disguise as we will be
\nforced to maximize the ability of our diplomats,\" said Irsan.
\n(prb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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