New appointments in the foreign ministry

JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab swore in four high- ranking officials to key positions at the ministry here on Monday.

Hassan Wirajuda, signatory to the Humanitarian Pause on Aceh, was sworn in as Director General for Political Affairs replacing senior diplomat Nugroho Wisnumurti.

Adian Silalahi took over as Director General ASEAN Cooperation, a post which he assumed several months earlier.

Mohammad Yusuf, formerly the Indonesian Consul for Jeddah, took over Adian's previous post as head of the ministry's research and development center.

A notable appointment was Abdurrachman Mattalitti, formerly deputy ambassador at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands, as Director General for Culture, Social and Information Relations, a post usually reserved for military officials.

"From the new officials you can see that I would like to give greater opportunity for all of the ministry's staff to have higher positions," Alwi said in his speech.

Without elaborating Alwi touched on possible information leaks from within the ministry.

In his address he reminded top officials to remain conscious of keeping "state secrets out of the public eye for the sake of the country".

Hassan and Nugroho are expected to make a straight switch, with the latter taking over Hassan's post as Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. (dja)