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.