Diplomats told to improve services

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked Indonesian embassies and representative offices around the world to improve their services for overseas Indonesians.

Addressing 119 Indonesian ambassadors, counselors and diplomats on Monday, the President said that as the country's representatives abroad, they had to do a better public relations job of selling Indonesia.

"We do not want people to make fun of Indonesia or dismiss us because of issues such as corruption," Susilo said.

The President said representative offices should help Indonesian nationals living abroad obtain immigration documents and provide them with legal aid when necessary. -- JP