President receives envoys' credentials

JAKARTA: Outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri received on Monday credentials from three new foreign ambassadors.

German Ambassador to Indonesian Joachim Broudrk-Grvger, Egyptian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed El-Sayed Taha and Fijian Ambassador to Indonesia Adi Litia Samanunun Qalirea Talakuli Cakobau presented their credentials at Merdeka Palace.

The Fijian envoy will be based in Kuala Lumpur.

"Each ceremony was shorter than usual, with the president receiving the German ambassador for only 20 minutes before the next envoys came," a palace official told The Jakarta Post.

During her three-year tenure as president, Megawati used to receive ambassadors' credentials on Friday, with each ceremony normally lasting about 30 minutes. -- JP