Restructuring at Pejambon<\/p>\n
Pejambon, in Central Jakarta, is the spot where the Ministry
\nof Foreign Affairs is located. The main building, named the
\nPancasila building, is considered a historical site since it was
\nthere that Sukarno, who was later to become Indonesia's first
\npresident, outlined his views on the foundations of the
\nyet-to-be-born independent state of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, that building during the mid-19th century was
\nthe residence of the military commander of the Netherlands East
\nIndies Army (KNIL), Bernhard Duke of Saksen-Weimar-Eisenach. It
\nbecame the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1950, when
\nthe Republic of the United States of Indonesia was established
\nwith Mohammad Hatta as foreign minister as well as prime
\nminister.<\/p>\n
Recently, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda
\nannounced a vast restructuring of the department that can rightly
\nbe seen as the most drastic changes that have been undertaken
\nsince the fall of president Sukarno's \"guided democracy\" regime
\nin 1966. The department has abandoned its function oriented
\nstructure with separate director-generals for political affairs,
\ninternational economic relations and a mixed-bag directorate-
\ngeneral for handling matters related to information, cultural
\nrelations and social issues.<\/p>\n
Under the present structure, specialists in different fields
\nwill be assigned to directorate-generals in specific geographic
\nareas. Of course, in reality the changes involved are more
\ncomplex than outlined. Actually, though, this concept has been
\nplanned and discussed for many years and ministries of foreign
\naffairs in a number of countries have applied structures similar
\nto or approaching this model. The fact, however, is that it was
\nWirajuda who has taken the decisive step to implement the plan
\nand has started to implement it on a gradual basis.<\/p>\n
Obviously, some fine tuning will be necessary in
\nimplementation. For example, it can be noted even now that it is
\nnot very realistic to assume that North America and Europe more
\nor less share the same interests. One could observe even at this
\npoint the independent tendencies of a united Europe, which tends
\nto have its own approaches in tackling the various international
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
One does not need to be an astute observer of international
\naffairs to predict that the emergence of China as a key player on
\nthe world stage combined with a weakening Japan will
\nsignificantly alter the global balance of power relations.
\nConsequently, it will be prudent for Indonesia's Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs to make the necessary organizational adjustments
\nfrom time to time in order to improve its efficacy in enhancing
\nIndonesia's national interests in a constantly changing world.
\nAnother encouraging development is that in step with this
\nrestructuring, a new batch of diplomats in their mid-40s has been
\nappointed at Pejambon to head a number of directorates. This
\nmeans that a rejuvenation of expert staff is taking place which
\nnaturally will enhance the ministry's working spirit.<\/p>\n
The Ministry was in a virtual limbo for almost 20 months
\nduring the reign of president Abdurrahman Wahid, when then
\nforeign minister Alwi Shihab was mostly busy as the president's
\npolitical trouble shooter. With the changes that are now taking
\nplace in the ministry -- both in terms of organizational
\nrestructuring and with the appointment of younger diplomats in
\nleadership positions -- we can at least say that something is now
\nstirring at Pejambon.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/restructuring-at-pejambon-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}