Indonesian envoys told to present good image

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid asked Indonesian envoys to present a good image of the country in their respective embassies amid continuing crisis in Indonesia.

"As Indonesian envoys, you should strive to improve our country's image within the international community, especially during the continuing national crisis," Abdurrahman said in the swearing in ceremony of five Indonesian ambassadors on Monday.

The five new ambassadors were sworn in by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who had canceled her trip to Palembang, South Sumatra, to fulfill the President's request for her to lead the ceremony at the State Palace.

Among the new envoys were two representatives from political parties, Golkar Party senior politician Eki Syahruddin as ambassador to Canada, and Dachlan Abdul Hamied from the Crescent Star Party as ambassador to Iraq.

The two new ambassadors are legislators at the House of Representatives.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs' former director general for the Association of South East Asian Nations Adian Silalahi was sworn in as ambassador to France.

Another two career diplomats from the foreign ministry were sworn in as ambassadors; Musma Musa Abbas for Tunisia and Susanto Sutoyo for New Zealand.

The post in New Zealand should have been filled by former minister Freddy Numberi, however, the House of Representatives suggested the retired admiral would be more suited to be stationed in another country other than New Zealand.

In April, the President swore in four ambassadors, Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat for Australia, Makmur Widodo as Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Toto Soegiharto for Rumania and A. A. Kustia, the only one who is not career diplomat, from the Indonesian Military (TNI) for China.

On Monday, Megawati also presented the honorary Bintang Yudha Pratama for distinguished service to Singaporean Military Chief Maj. Gen. Lim Chuan Poh.

The presentation of the Bintang Yudha Pratama is usually conducted by the TNI chief. However, TNI Chief Widodo A.S. was presented with a similar military honor a few months ago by the Singaporean president therefore Indonesia reciprocated the gesture. (dja)