Envoy to King Hussein's funeral

This is in response to a letter to the editor which appeared in your daily on Feb. 11, Embarrassed by RI's arrogance. I wish to point out that contrary to the writer's claim that Indonesia sent a low-level delegation to the funeral ceremony of the late King Hussein Ben Talal in Jordan, President B.J. Habibie in fact sent Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung, who was also at that time named ad interim Minister of Foreign Affairs as the special envoy to the funeral ceremony. Foreign minister Ali Alatas was at that time in New York engaged in talks with the foreign minister of Portugal and the UN Secretary-General, and on his way to the G-15 summit in Jamaica to represent President Habibie.

Unfortunately, because of technical difficulties (time differences, requirements for flight clearance and landing permits, and the distance between Jakarta and Amman), Tanjung could not arrive on time for the funeral. However, he was able to personally deliver a message of profound condolences from President Habibie to King Abdullah ben Hussein. Moreover, on Feb. 8, 1999, at Merdeka Palace, President Habibie himself delivered an official speech which was broadcast nationally by TVRI and private television stations, expressing the condolences of the Indonesian government and people to the people of Jordan and the bereaved royal family.

Far from being arrogant, the Indonesian government did all it could to honor the memory of a revered leader who dedicated his life to the cause of peace.

GHAFFAR FADYL

Director for Foreign Information

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Jakarta