RI ponders reducing diplomatic missions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is studying the
\npossibility of shutting down Indonesian diplomatic missions
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
For now, however, it is relying on streamlining measures such
\nas reducing the number of diplomats sent overseas and recruitment
\nlevels and other efficiency measures to counter the monetary
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas expressed hope
\nyesterday that cutbacks would not have to include closing down
\nIndonesian diplomatic missions.<\/p>\n
\"We'll have to see. We are conducting an overall study. What's
\nimportant is that up to now no posts have been closed and there
\nare no plans to close any,\" Alatas said when asked about it by
\njournalists yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Of course we'll have to look at developments later but
\nhopefully it won't be necessary (to close missions abroad). But
\nwe obviously will streamline staff,\" he added during a \"Love
\nRupiah\" drive held at the ministry. Alatas exchanged US$1,000
\ninto rupiah.<\/p>\n
In the 1998\/1999 draft budget presented to the House of
\nRepresentatives earlier this month funds allocated to the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs for routine expenditure increased to
\nRp 1.34 trillion from the previous year's Rp 961 billion.<\/p>\n
But the budget for development expenses, for projects such as
\npromotion and countering negative publicity about Indonesia
\nabroad, shrunk to Rp 12.88 billion from the previous year's Rp 49
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
After the budget was presented, Alatas admitted that austerity
\nmeasures were needed given the rupiah's continuing slide against
\nthe U.S. dollar, but maintained there were no plans to close any
\nof the 111 representative offices abroad.<\/p>\n
At the time he even said plans to open an embassy in Lima,
\nPeru, and Doha, Qatar, would continue.<\/p>\n
Alatas said yesterday that among the austerity measures \"which
\nhave been, and will continue to be, taken\" include being more
\nselective over attending international conferences and letting
\nofficials go on trips.<\/p>\n
The ministry's secretary-general, Abdul Irsan, said steps were
\nalready being taken to reduce the rotation of diplomats abroad.<\/p>\n
\"The (latest) rotation which is usually about 60 people has
\nbeen reduced to 20, with 16 being pulled back home and four being
\nsent abroad,\" Irsan explained.<\/p>\n
The recruitment of new personnel was also reduced, he said,
\nfrom an average of about 60 per year to 38.<\/p>\n
About 600 Indonesian diplomats are currently posted abroad.<\/p>\n
But Irsan maintained that despite the crisis, the ministry
\nwould continue to take steps to improve the quality of its human
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the possibility of using national currencies in
\nintra-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) trade,
\nAlatas said he did not believe it would hamper trade if the U.S.
\ndollar or British pound were not used.<\/p>\n
He said ASEAN was determined to increase intra-trade volumes
\nwithout using foreign currency.<\/p>\n
\"Experts are now studying a trade mechanism that does not use
\nforeign currencies as, certainly, it would not pose constraints
\nto our countries' trade,\" Alatas said.<\/p>\n
\"Using ASEAN currencies to trade would not cause us any
\nlosses,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and
\nPresident Soeharto agreed here Saturday to increase trade volumes
\nwithout using non-ASEAN currencies.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (10\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-ponders-reducing-diplomatic-missions-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}