Envoy to King Hussein's funeral

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