Her Majesty's ambassador

Diplomatic assignments, by definition, are of a short-term nature. So it is not surprising that ambassadors come and go when they have completed their assignments. Nevertheless, the departure of Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Richard Gozney and his wife Mrs. Diana Gozney cannot be viewed simply as a routine event in Jakarta's diplomatic life.

Since the beginning of the Republic of Indonesia, British diplomats have played a significant role in finding amicable solutions to the complicated problems facing this country.

We are reminded of the roles that Sir Archibald Clark Kerr (who later became Lord Inverchapel) and Lord Killearn played in mediating in the conflict between the Netherlands and the Republic of Indonesia, resulting in the Linggarjati Agreement of 1947. There was also the work done by Sir John Ford, who at the end of the 1970s negotiated with the then powerful security chief, Gen. Sumitro, to release in stages the political prisoners held on Buru island.

Ambassador Richard Gozney's performance since he presented his credentials at the end of August 2000 has been of a different nature. He has a natural gift for making friends with Indonesians from all professional and social circles. These wide-ranging friendships, inside and outside the government, made it easier for Pak Gozney to explain his government's unpopular policies in Iraq.

Given that this is his second assignment in Indonesia -- he was here about 40 years ago as a young political officer -- his proficiency in the Indonesian language, which he speaks with a slight Jakarta accent, and his visibility and accessibility are indeed noticeable.

What is it that makes Ambassador Richard Gozney such a valuable asset, not only for the Jakarta diplomatic corps but, more important, for the politics of Indonesia's nascent democracy?

Indonesians, whether government officials, legislative members, business executives, media representatives or activists, will remember how Ambassador Gozney always used common sense and took a rational approach in suggesting possible solutions to a number of perplexing problems facing Indonesia.

Of course, empathy and a personal inclination to be generous with advice were not the only reasons Her Majesty's ambassador worked so hard during these past years. After all, a stable and prosperous Indonesia, in which democracy and justice flourish, will have a positive impact on the security architecture of Southeast Asia. That, in turn, will offer exciting possibilities for the business and investment interests of the United Kingdom.

We wish Ambassador Richard Gozney and the elegant Mrs. Gozney selamat jalan. May he, in his next position, attain the same success he experienced in Indonesia.