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)