Professional diplomats

Professional diplomats

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has called on Indonesian
diplomats to be more proactive, not merely reactive or silent
while executing their duties. Giving an example, the foreign
minister said that whenever unfavorable reports are published
about East Timor or Indonesia, our diplomats should not just
report the cases to their superiors, but respond straightaway to
counter the attack.

We entirely understand Foreign Minister Alatas' appeal because
our overseas diplomats are in immediate contact with the
prevailing mood in the country in which they are stationed. Not
only are they assumed to be knowledgeable about the situation,
they are also expected to be able to anticipate developments and
to be sensitive towards them.

It seems that the time has come to end the practice of handing
out diplomatic posts as tokens of gratitude for previous services
well rendered. The ambassadors that fit our present needs are
either career diplomats well versed in the art of diplomacy or
whoever -- scholars, journalists or other professionals -- fits
the mission and the needs of Indonesia in the country in
question.

-- Kompas, Jakarta