Indonesian envoys told to present good image
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)