Djopari named RI envoy to PNG

JAYAPURA, Papua: Former Papua deputy governor JRG Djopari has been named the Indonesian ambassador to the neighboring country of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands.

Djopari said on Wednesday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri would officially swear him in later this month.

Djopari is the fourth Papuan to take up an ambassadorial post, following in the footsteps of after Barnabas Suebu (ambassador to Mexico), Freddy Numberi (Italy) and Theo Waimuri (Namibia).

PNG covers the eastern half of Papua island, and has long been used as a shelter by Free Papua Organization separatist rebels.

Djopari said PNG had bright economic prospects that Indonesian businesspeople could take advantage of. -- Antara