New Australian consul in Medan

New Australian consul in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Australia opened its second
consulate in the country on Thursday in this provincial capital.

Australian envoy John McCarthy installed Fraser Cargill as the
new consul. The reception was held on the Australian naval ship,
HMAS Brisbane, at the Belawan port. Guests included North Sumatra
governor, Rizal Nurdin, chief of staff of the Bukit Barisan
military command Brig. Gen. Djibut Hindarto and representatives
from other countries.

Cargill has been the manager of the Australia Center here
since 1994. Australia's other consulate is in Bali.

McCarthy said Friday other consulates would be opened in
Balikpapan, East Kalimantan; Surabaya, East Java; Kupang, East
Nusa Tenggara; Ambon, Maluku and Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

McCarthy said that the consulate was expected to facilitate
trade, education and investment planning, and that his government
was looking to long-term prospects despite the crisis.

"North Sumatra is one of the biggest student market places
from Indonesia," he said. A special information center will be
set up because of the increasing requests for information on
study in Australia, including vocational studies. (21/27)