More money for better diplomats

More money for better diplomats

JAKARTA (JP): As the government forwarded a budget which allocates a 53 percent increase in funds for foreign affairs, the head of the House of Representatives Commission on foreign policy called for an improvement in the quality of Indonesian diplomats.

Aisyah Amini said yesterday that the additional fund should be reflected in a marked improvement in the country's diplomatic corps, and in particular the capabilities of Indonesia's ambassadors abroad.

"We have discussed repeatedly told the government that we have to do something about the matter," Aisyah told The Jakarta Post.

She said Indonesian diplomats are still of poor quality, and warned that the challenges facing Indonesia in the coming years will be more complex and difficult.

The government yesterday presented its draft budget for the 1996/1997 fiscal year, appropriating Rp 6 billion (US$2.6 million) for foreign relations activities. This represents a 53 increase over the budget envisaged for the outgoing 1995/96.

President Soeharto in his address said the substantial increase would be used, among other things, for diplomatic campaigns to strengthen Indonesia's image abroad.

"The activities will be aimed at intensifying diplomatic efforts and information dissemination abroad with a view to providing correct information about Indonesia and its' development endeavors by capitalizing on the international information network," Soeharto told the House.

Aisyah said Indonesia must be more active in countering negative publicity and also turn the glut of information entering the country at an alarming velocity into its advantage.

"We have to anticipate the globalization era where information from abroad enters very fast. It is our task to filter this information and to handle it appropriately, especially issues concerning East Timor and human rights," Aisyah said.

Human rights is an important issue faced by Indonesia and Aisyah said Indonesian diplomats should respond quickly to any accusations made abroad about Indonesia's performance.

Indonesian diplomats need to be more aggressive in responding to various issues, she said.

She said diplomatic education and other supporting educational programs will improve their skills, especially in debate and language proficiency. (01/mds)