Foreign Ministry on

Foreign Ministry on
coordination meeting

From Kompas

In response to the letter sent by Mr Robert P. titled Foreign
Ministry trapped in coordination meeting, ing (Kompas, December 18), we I
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.

It is true that coordination can be established through
various facilities, including the Internet, which has actually
been put into practice. However, 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.

In the present situation, it is not easy for information
officers stationed abroad to give information that may improve
the positive image of Indonesia. Therefore, professional
information officers are needed. 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