Mega seeks input on foreign envoys

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri has sent two letters to the House of Representatives (DPR) asking legislators to advise her on the appointment of foreign ambassadors for their missions in Jakarta.

In two letters, copies of which were obtained by The Jakarta Post on Monday, Megawati asked the House to give its recommendations as soon as possible.

Foreign ambassadorial candidates for Indonesia include Godfrey S. Simasiku of Zambia, Markku Hugo Tapani Niinioja of Finland, Ghazi bin Said bin Abdullah Al-Bahar Al-Rawas of Oman, and Hugh Swift of Ireland.

Article 13 of the amended 1945 Constitution stipulates that the President shall accept the appointment of foreign diplomats after taking into consideration inputs given by legislators.

Megawati welcomed in the letters the assignment of those ambassadors in an effort to maintain good ties with those countries.