Where's my porridge? Susilo asks

Where's my porridge? Susilo asks

It is already after nine on a Friday morning and experiencing
the uneasy sensation of missing breakfast guests gathered in the
auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building are
shifting in their seats, not least guest speaker President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono.

"I hear a lot of foreign policy, I see many foreign policy
experts. But Pak Hassan, where is my breakfast?" the President
said putting his host, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
Wirayuda, on the spot.

The President blurted out his remark before opening the latest
event in the Foreign Policy Breakfast series, which Hassan
regularly holds as part of his public diplomacy campaign.

As is with tradition, participants struggled through the
morning traffic, mostly foregoing breakfast, knowing that the
host would serve the meal. Only, unlike the usual gathering, this
time around Hassan expanded the forum and brought in President
Yudhoyono to give the opening address.

In the past, the participants were limited to politicians,
scholars, activists, religious leaders and journalists but never
the President himself. His presence meant a delay in serving
breakfast.

Friday was a special occasion for Hassan and his staff: The
gathering marked the 60th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.

The ministry also opened a photo exhibition depicting the
history of Indonesian diplomacy in the making, going back to the
early years of the republic, when diplomacy played a central role
in the struggle for independence and for international
recognition in the late 1940s.

Not to be outdone by the President, Hassan said he had been
asked on several occasions what the difference was between a
foreign policy breakfast and Continental and American breakfasts.

The foreign policy breakfast, he told the audience, was less
expensive but more effective.

And, what was on that menu that morning?

About one hour later, after the President gave his off-the-
cuff speech, the 100-or-so guests finally had the satisfaction of
seeing placed before them hot dishes of bubur ayam (chicken
porridge). -- Endy M. Bayuni