RI reopens its embassy in Havana
RI reopens its embassy in Havana
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is reopening its embassy in Havana after 10 years because of Cuba's decision to support Indonesia on the East Timor question.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas on Tuesday installed Aroeman as charge d'affaires for the embassy in Havana, which was closed in 1985 in the course of cost cuts, Antara reported.
During the past 10 years, the Indonesian ambassador for Mexico has also held the post as non-resident ambassador for Cuba.
Alatas was quoted as telling reporters that the Cuban government's stance which had earlier been anti-Indonesia on the East Timor question changed, as shown during the 49th conference of the United Nations' Human Rights Commission in Geneva in 1993, when it voted in support of Indonesia.
"Cuba's latest position on the East Timor question shows it is more supportive of Indonesia," Alatas said. "Besides, our relations have become more intensive as fellow Non-Aligned Movement members," Alatas said after the installation ceremony.
"Now we feel a need to reopen the embassy, especially in view of Cuba's decision to send an ambassador to Indonesia since 1992. On the principle of reciprocity, we should have our own representative there," he said.
Alatas on Tuesday also swore in Bahrun Subardjo to head the new consulate in Johor Bahru in Malaysia and Widodo Surono to head the Indonesian consulate in Darwin, Australia.
In his speech, Alatas asked Widodo to be active in countering negative information about the development in East Timor that are disseminated by supporters of Fretilin, the East Timor armed separatist movement.
Darwin, the capital of Northern Territory, is home to thousands of East Timorese who went into exile because of their opposition to East Timor's 1976 integration with Indonesia.
Noting that some of the East Timorese and their supporters often disrupted the consulate work through various demonstrations, Alatas said the new consul chief must exercise wisdom in dealing with and neutralizing anti-Indonesian government activities.
The consulate in Darwin must also deal with Indonesian fishermen who are either caught by the Australian authorities for border intrusion, or washed ashore on Australian waters, Alatas said.
Alatas said the government has decided to open a new consulate general in Johor Bahru because of the huge number of Indonesian workers living in the southern Malaysian peninsula state.
He said the growth triangle cooperation linking Johore with Singapore and the Indonesian province of Riau is another reason behind the decision to open the consulate.
The consulate, he added, is expected to help with consular work for Indonesian workers in the territory, he added. (emb)