Short but sweet

When a government recalls an ambassador from an overseas posting, there can be only two possibilities for that occasion. Either the ambassador is considered not to be implementing the instructions of superiors, or that he or she is slated to occupy a higher position.

Fortunately, in the case of Japan's ambassador to Indonesia, Yukio Takeuchi, the latter case is true. Ambassador Takeuchi has been in his post in Jakarta for only 10 months and now he has been called home to take up the post of vice-minister for foreign affairs.

Apparently, when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi replaced the popular Makiko Tanaka as foreign minister with Yuriko Kawaguchi, the new foreign minister chose Ambassador Takeuchi as the number- one professional diplomat to run Gaimusho (ministry of foreign affairs). She must have been quite impressed with Tokyo's man in Indonesia, as many of us are, which led her to name him as her top professional diplomat.

The period of 10 months that Ambassador Takeuchi has been in Indonesia can be described as a "short but sweet" assignment. Within those 10 months he has witnessed the intense dynamics of Indonesian politics when President Abdurrahman Wahid was constitutionally replaced by the then Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. He has seen the formation of President Megawati's cabinet and has had the precious opportunity, as far as ambassadors are concerned, to acquaint himself with the members of the new cabinet from the outset.

The visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Indonesia last month as part of a tour of a number of ASEAN countries was of course a very useful occasion for the Japanese ambassador. To a large degree, Prime Minister Koizumi's intention to strengthen Japan's cooperation with ASEAN countries as part of a cooperation framework in East Asia will depend on Ambassador Takeuchi's leadership.

Those who were fortunate enough to get acquainted with him during his posting in Indonesia, were impressed with his clarity of thinking, his ability to communicate his ideas effectively and his personal politeness. Therefore, there can be no doubt that he will not be a disappointment in his new job.

We wish Ambassador Takeuchi the best of luck and a safe journey home.