Jakartans win heart of Serbian envoy

Jakartans win heart of Serbian envoy

Adianto P. Simamora and Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

During his two-month stay in Jakarta, Serbia and Montenegro
Ambassador to Indonesia Zoran Kazazovic has discovered that
living in the world's largest Muslim nation is pleasant, even
without somewhere to call home.

Ambassador Kazazovic's country -- the self-proclaimed
successor to the former state of Yugoslavia -- is a loose
federation of two republics referred to as Serbia and Montenegro,
established in 2003.

Kazazovic, who is currently staying in a hotel, has yet to
find a suitable home for himself and his family.

Despite his country's (former Yugoslavia's) close relations
with Indonesia for almost five decades, Kazazovic had no previous
opportunity chance to visit Jakarta.

Kazazovic admitted that he was pleasantly surprised at the
politeness of Indonesians and their readiness to help strangers
like him.

"I've never seen such politeness before. People are always
ready to help newcomers. If I speak with them, they are ready to
listen patiently. In addition, they are not in a hurry," he said.

"With their smiles I feel relaxed here," Kazazovic said in an
interview with The Jakarta Post at his office recently.

This was his first impression of Indonesia after he presented
his credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Feb. 1.

Born on Sept. 21, 1953 in Pula in the present Republic of
Croatia, Kazazovic began his career in a big Yugoslav company
after graduating from law school.

While working at the company for nine years, Kazazovic
traveled to several countries such as Russia, Spain, Austria,
Italy and Germany.

"It was a very good and positive experience for me. I reached
a reasonable level in that company and I had a lot of
opportunities to travel to explore other countries. I was very
satisfied," he said.

"But during those nine years, I was looking for a new
challenge," he said.

His quest for more knowledge about foreign countries motivated
him to join the foreign ministry, something that was strongly
opposed by his father.

The 52-year-old father of two began his diplomatic career in
1987 as second secretary dealing with Middle East, Bulgaria and
Albania affairs.

"After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I felt very
happy because it was my personal ambition to become a diplomat,"
he said.

Within two years, Kazazovic, who speaks English and Spanish,
climbed the career ladder to become the first secretary at the
ministry's group for Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

In 1990, Kazazovic and his wife Zoran, a dentist, landed in
Brazil.

After a two-year stint there, Kazazovic returned home and was
appointed first secretary for Balkan Cooperation and Ethnic
Minorities at the Directorate for Neighboring Countries at the
ministry.

Kazazovic worked there for five years before being promoted to
counselor for political affairs in Spain in 1997.

"I have so far served in only two posts outside Belgrade; as
you can see, I have a lot of experience in the Latin world," he
said.

After returning home from Spain in 2001, Kazazovic was
appointed director/minister plenipotentiary at the directorate
for neighboring countries at the ministry.

"Thus, I reached the top level there and this is my first
posting as an ambassador," he said.

"For me, as a professional diplomat, the ambassadorial post is
recognition of one's professional skills and integrity," he said.

Zarazovic, who loves cycling and traveling, is confident that
his lack of knowledge about Indonesia and its people will not be
an obstacle to his job in Jakarta.

"This is absolutely a new region for me, except Japan, which I
visited once. I came here with a desire to discover Asia as a
continent and Indonesia as a country that has much diversity in
culture and history.

It's like a challenge, and I like challenges," said Zarazovic,
who hopes to move relations between Serbia and Montenegro and
Indonesia into a new area of shared interests and cooperation.

The ambassador has a recipe for making his life happy in new
places.

"What I wish is to become part of Indonesian society. The best
way is to integrate with society and accept its culture as a
daily habit. (By doing so) one will be happy. This is my approach
to learn about a new country and its people.

"I was happy in Brazil and Spain and I am quite sure I will be
happy here," he said.

Zarazovic said his daughters, who study at Gandhi Memorial
International School, are very happy here in Jakarta.

Asked about the problems in communicating with Indonesians,
the ambassador said that language was not a problem.

"I've not had any substantial problems thus far. Whenever I
have a problem with language, someone who knows English will come
and offer his or her help," Zarazovic said.

He is optimistic that his past business experience will help
him in dealings with Indonesian businesspeople interested in
doing business with Serbia and Montenegro.