President inaugurates three new envoys

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri swore in on Wednesday three new envoys for overseas Indonesian missions, including a representative to the United Nations in New York.

Rezlan Izhar Jenie was sworn in as Indonesia's permanent representative to UN Headquarters, Iris Indira Murti as the ambassador to Finland and Kemas Fachruddin as the ambassador to Yemen.

At Wednesday's inauguration ceremony, Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erman Radjagukguk read out a presidential decree on the appointment of the three new envoys, while the President provided the new envoys with letters of credential to be presented to their respective host countries.

"This to simplify the bureaucracy, so that the new ambassadors can present their credentials immediately to the designated countries," a high-ranking palace official told The Jakarta Post.

Letters of credential are usually given to ambassadors a few weeks after they are sworn in.

The three envoys had passed screening tests by the House of Representative (DPR) last year, but were not immediately sworn in. No official explanation was given on the delayed inauguration.

Of the three envoys, Iris, a former House member and deputy treasurer of Golkar, is the only non-career diplomat. Golkar is the largest faction in the House.

Rezlan is a younger generation diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Kemas is a senior diplomat from the ministry.

At the ceremony, Megawati was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and several other ministers, including ad interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno and National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

Also on Wednesday, three new foreign ambassadors to Indonesia, including British Ambassador Charles Thomas William Humfrey CMG, presented their credentials to Megawati.

Ambassador Humfrey is to replace Ambassador Richard Gozney, and is a senior diplomat who has served at the United Kingdom Mission to the UN and British Ambassador to Seoul.

Megawati also received the credentials of new Sri Lankan Ambassador Grace Nesamalar Niliah and United Arab Emirates Ambassador Yousif Rashid Yousif Rashid Alshram.

Newly inaugurated ambassadors ----------------------------------------------------------------

Name Country Affiliation ----------------------------------------------------------------

Rezlan Izhar Jenie UN Mission, New York Career diplomat Kemas Fachruddin Yemen Career diplomat Iris Indira Murti Finland former Golkar

deputy treasurer ----------------------------------------------------------------