New ambassador to Australia nominated<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government of Indonesia named Sudjadnan
\nParnohadiningrat, a career diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign
\naffairs as the candidate to fill the vacant ambassadorial post in
\nCanberra.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab confirmed the
\nappointment on Wednesday saying that Sudjadnan, with his
\nexperience, is the most appropriate diplomat to hold the
\nposition.<\/p>\n
"We issued the appointment two weeks ago and we are waiting
\nfor it to be processed through the House of Representatives. I
\nhope it can be finished within one month," Alwi told journalists
\nafter the installation of Abdul Wahid as Indonesia's Consul
\nGeneral in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Bilateral ties between the two countries have gone through an
\nextremely rocky period since Australia led a multinational
\npeacekeeping force in East Timor last year. One very important
\ntask for the Ambassador will be to improve the strained ties.<\/p>\n
Alwi further said the ministry expected Sudjadnan would be
\ninstalled along with nine other Indonesian Ambassadorial
\ncandidates in March.<\/p>\n
The leading position in Canberra was left vacant after the
\nministry appointed the then Indonesian ambassador to Australia
\nArizal Effendi as the ministry's new secretary-general in
\nNovember, after holding the ambassadorial post for just 11
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Sudjadnan currently serves as the ministry director of
\nInternational Organizations. He has held the position since late
\n1999.<\/p>\n
He was one of the leading figures at the ministry to handle
\nthe East Timor problem, including the agreement to settle the
\nremaining issues after the separation of the former province.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment on his appointment, Sudjadnan just said:
\n"We just have to wait until the whole process in the House is
\nfinished."<\/p>\n
Alwi also announced on Wednesday that he may hold a meeting
\nwith the new United States Secretary of State Collin Powell in
\nMarch.<\/p>\n
"The date is still tentatively set between 10 to 13 of March.
\nWe are going to hold bilateral talks especially on the current
\npolitical situation in Indonesia," he said.<\/p>\n
He further said that earlier this month Minister of Trade and
\nIndustry Luhut Panjaitan held a meeting with Powell and in the
\nmeeting the United States confirmed their support for the
\ncountry. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-ambassador-to-australia-nominated-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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