Megawati installs four new ambassadors

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri Thursday named four new Indonesian ambassadors for Thailand, Germany, Tanzania and Ukraine.

Senior diplomat Makmur Widodo, current director general of multilateral relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was appointed as Indonesian ambassador to Germany.

Before being appointed director general of multilateral relations in 2002, Makmur was deputy permanent representative to the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Senior diplomat Ibrahim Yusuf was appointed as Indonesia's ambassador to Thailand. His previous position was head of the ministry's research, training and development agency.

Trijono Marjono was appointed Indonesia's ambassador to Tanzania. Prior to his appointment he was secretary to the director general for America and Europe.

Former charge d'affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, the Philippines, Manuel Alexander Laturiuw was appointed ambassador to Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia. He will be based in Kiev.

Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yuri Thamrin said on Thursday that the four had gone through the selection process at the House of Representatives in June, along with 10 other ambassadors.

Of the 14 ambassadorial candidates, six had been installed earlier, while the remaining four would be installed next Thursday.

"The last four are still waiting for agreement letters from their designated countries such as for Portugal and Italy," Yuri told The Jakarta Post.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda was absent in the 30-minute ceremony as he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Hanoi on behalf of the President.

Megawati, who was defeated by her rival Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the presidential election, decided not to attend the summit. No explanation was given.

List of Envoys ----------------------------------------------------------------

Names Countries ---------------------------------------------------------------- Makmur Widodo Germany Ibrahim Yusuf Thailand Trijono Marjono Tanzania Manuel Alexander Laturiuw Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia ----------------------------------------------------------------