Foreign Ministry explains

Foreign Ministry explains

From Kompas

In response to the letter sent by Robert P. titled Foreign Ministry trapped in coordination meeting, I consider it necessary to explain that information coordination meetings are one of the ministry's routine activities related to the working territories of the representative offices of the Republic of Indonesia. The purpose is to provide the information officials with matters related to public relations, first-hand information about the latest developments in Indonesia and techniques on how to communicate with the media.

The meeting heard lectures from relevant officials and experts in their fields, including a simulation by a Beijing-based senior journalist of a foreign media publication.

The meeting also drew up an action plan and this had to be carried out by the representative offices with consideration being given to the reality and capability conforming to the condition of the representative offices concerned. The funds for the meeting did not come from a special project, but from the representative offices concerned. Even speakers not from the foreign ministry paid for their own trip to Beijing.

Concerning the benefit of Internet, it should be noted that not all that an information officer needs can be obtained from the Internet because, in an effort to improve the quality of human resources, a coordination meeting places the stress on active interaction between the participants and resource persons. So the information coordination meeting was one of the means to achieve this goal. Of course, time, energy and money were needed.

The foreign ministry fully appreciates the public demand that more attention should be given to the protection of Indonesian citizens faced with one problem or another abroad. Therefore, in the new structure of the foreign ministry, a new directorate has been set up. This is the directorate for the protection of Indonesian citizens and Indonesian statutory bodies.

The establishment of this directorate requires a larger budget for the ministry.

M. WAHID SUPRIYADI, Director of Information and Media, Foreign Ministry, Jakarta