Algerian envoy serves three masters

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

There is a saying that goes, "not all diplomats are peace negotiators, but all peace negotiators are diplomats."

Algeria's new Ambassador to Indonesia Hamza Yahia-Cherif is both a diplomat and a negotiator. He also has other attributes that could serve him well in his new job, and possibly make him one of the popular diplomats in town.

Ambassador Yahia-Cherif -- a proud son of an Algerian peasant -- is an experienced and skilled diplomat who understands the subtleties of global politics, the fine lines, the tight corners and the balancing act needed to achieve consensus or partnership.

The 50-year-old diplomat, who submitted his credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Jan. 10, 2005, has taken part in a variety of international gatherings such as the UNCTAD, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and G-77, as a member of his country's negotiating team.

Yahia-Cherif joined the foreign service in August 1982 with the aim of serving his country. But why the foreign service?

In Algeria, a former French colony that became independent in 1962, each person is expected to do three important things during their life.

"Every Algerian has a moral obligation to serve Allah, his or her parents and the nation," Yahia-Cherif, who graduated from the National School of Administration in 1982 majoring in diplomacy, told The Jakarta Post in an exclusive interview at his office recently.

"As a Muslim, it is my duty to serve Allah. As a son and citizen, I serve my parents and my country. I thought I can better serve my country by joining the foreign service. This is the only service where one can promote one's country and its culture in foreign countries and learn about foreign cultures and people," said Yahia-Cherif, who speaks fluent Arabic, French, Japanese and English, but no Indonesian.

During his distinguished 23-year diplomatic career, Yahia- Cherif worked as second secretary from 1984 to 1988 in Tokyo and as first secretary in New Delhi from 1988 to 1990. He later served as a counselor from 1996 to 2000 in Stockholm.

Prior to taking up his current post he was the director for Eastern Asia, Oceania and Pacific Affairs at the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from July 2001 to Jan. 2005 in Algiers.

During his stint in Japan, Yahia-Cherif learned Japanese and fell in love with Asian values.

"I admire Asian values. We Africans can adopt so many good things from Asia. There are so many similarities between our cultures, religion and so on," said Yahia-Cherif, who loves to travel -- a critical requirement for a diplomat -- and read books.

Yahia-Cherif comes across as an impressive communicator. He speaks confidently, jovially and honestly, peppering the conversation with jokes as well as anecdotes and thereby mesmerizing his listeners.

When asked about his family, Yahia-Cherif said: "I have three daughters. One is from Asia, the second from Africa and the third is from Europe," he said, with a laugh.

He quickly added, to avoid speculation, that the three daughters were born in Tokyo, Algiers and Stockholm.

As far as his sports interests are concerned, he acknowledged that he is an avid soccer fan.

"I heard that the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes an annual friendly soccer match between its officials and the diplomatic corps. I have already registered my name for the soccer match," said Yahia-Cherif, who always appears in his country's national dress at receptions.

Yahia-Cherif has always been a top-achiever, and Jakarta appears to be no exception for him.

"My track record in Jakarta is not bad. During my first two weeks, I met President Susilo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, four ministers and almost a quarter of the diplomatic corps, despite traffic jams, as well as the grief that surrounded Indonesia after the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster."

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika appointed Yahia-Cherif to represent him in the world's most-populous Muslim nation and to give new direction to existing relations at a time when both Algiers and Jakarta are stressing the need for greater bilateral cooperation.

"I feel proud and honored to represent my country in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation. I will do my level best to improve relations between the two countries. That will be my main mission in Indonesia," Yahia-Cherif said.