Where's my porridge? Susilo asks<\/p>\n
It is already after nine on a Friday morning and experiencing
\nthe uneasy sensation of missing breakfast guests gathered in the
\nauditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building are
\nshifting in their seats, not least guest speaker President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
\"I hear a lot of foreign policy, I see many foreign policy
\nexperts. But Pak Hassan, where is my breakfast?\" the President
\nsaid putting his host, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirayuda, on the spot.<\/p>\n
The President blurted out his remark before opening the latest
\nevent in the Foreign Policy Breakfast series, which Hassan
\nregularly holds as part of his public diplomacy campaign.<\/p>\n
As is with tradition, participants struggled through the
\nmorning traffic, mostly foregoing breakfast, knowing that the
\nhost would serve the meal. Only, unlike the usual gathering, this
\ntime around Hassan expanded the forum and brought in President
\nYudhoyono to give the opening address.<\/p>\n
In the past, the participants were limited to politicians,
\nscholars, activists, religious leaders and journalists but never
\nthe President himself. His presence meant a delay in serving
\nbreakfast.<\/p>\n
Friday was a special occasion for Hassan and his staff: The
\ngathering marked the 60th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign
\nAffairs.<\/p>\n
The ministry also opened a photo exhibition depicting the
\nhistory of Indonesian diplomacy in the making, going back to the
\nearly years of the republic, when diplomacy played a central role
\nin the struggle for independence and for international
\nrecognition in the late 1940s.<\/p>\n
Not to be outdone by the President, Hassan said he had been
\nasked on several occasions what the difference was between a
\nforeign policy breakfast and Continental and American breakfasts.<\/p>\n
The foreign policy breakfast, he told the audience, was less
\nexpensive but more effective.<\/p>\n
And, what was on that menu that morning?<\/p>\n
About one hour later, after the President gave his off-the-
\ncuff speech, the 100-or-so guests finally had the satisfaction of
\nseeing placed before them hot dishes of bubur ayam (chicken
\nporridge). -- Endy M. Bayuni<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wheres-my-porridge-susilo-asks-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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