Diplomatic mission to be trimmed

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is planning to reduce the number of the country's representative offices around the globe in an effort to enhance the performance of its diplomatic missions.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday restructuring the representative offices could mean the closure of diplomatic missions deemed no longer beneficial.

"We will utilize our representative offices to the maximum effect, but we are still assessing which offices we would like to restructure," Hassan said after a ceremony to inaugurate 14 new Indonesian envoys.

"However, the trend is to reduce the number of offices as we find no need to open new representative offices," the minister said.

Indonesia currently has 119 representative offices, including embassies, consulate generals and consulates, in about 70 countries.

Some of the offices were opened based on the need for Indonesia to establish bilateral ties with as many countries as possible, due to its position as the largest country in Southeast Asia and to maintain its nonaligned principles.

Indonesia has also actively joined international organizations to win acknowledgement from the world community.

Since taking office in July 2001, Hassan has moved ahead with plans to restructure the ministry, beginning with a revision of the organizational structure of his office.

During the ceremony on Thursday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri installed 14 new ambassadors, including those to Australia, Russia and Malaysia.

Some of the decrees spelling out the placement of the ambassadors were signed only minutes before their inauguration. There was no explanation given for the delay.

Hassan said that although the post of Indonesian ambassador to Australian had been vacant for more than a year, Canberra understood it was not a negative political signal from Jakarta.

"They understand that it was because of prolonged domestic procedures on our side," the minister said.

Among the ambassadors sworn in was the former chief editor of The Jakarta Post, Susanto Pudjomartono, who has been posted to Russia.

"The President asked me to hold talks with the Indonesian Military chief and officials at the Ministry of Defense to discuss the country's plan to purchase more Russian-made Sukhoi warplanes," Susanto said.

Former National Police chief Gen. (ret) Roesihardjo was installed as the country's ambassador to Malaysia.

List of newly inaugurated ambassadors

Name Country

Abdul Wahid Maktub Qatar

Ahzam Bahdari Razif Senegal

Anwar Santoso Pakistan

Artauli R.M.P. Tobing Vietnam

Bambang Prayitno Vatican

Broto Utomo Bulgaria

Djismun Kasri Kenya and Seychelles

Faisha Hasan Soeftendy Greece

Gede Putu Artisme Namibia

Imron Cotan Australia

Perwitorini Wijono Denmark and Lithuania

Primo Alui Joelianto New Zealand

Roesdihardjo Malaysia

Susanto Pudjomartono Russia