Help foreign ministry

Help foreign ministry

From Merdeka

The impact of the monetary crisis has been felt far and wide, from the government to the private sector. No one is to blame. It is a situation beyond control.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been seriously affected by the crisis. The secretary-general admitted that the uncontrollable depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar had compelled the ministry to reduce the number of diplomats posted overseas. The ministry's budget is issued in rupiah but most of its expenditure is in U.S. dollars.

There is a consensus that in the present circumstances we must tighten our belts, and be careful how we spend money. However, since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spearheads our country abroad, it deserves special help and attention. Our image abroad will suffer if our embassies lack professional diplomats and operational funds. What can the foreign ministry do if its budget has been reduced in value by over 50 percent? The government (and the House of Representatives) should redraft a realistic budget to support our overseas diplomatic missions.

I am afraid that in this era of globalization we shall fall behind other nations, and may also be trifled with.

K. ZAKARIA

Jakarta