Outgoing Chilean envoy sees good future for RI-Chile ties

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 07/21/2007 11:35 AM

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It came as a shock for most diplomatic observers when the jovial Chilean ambassador to Indonesia, Rolando Drago R., announced he was leaving Indonesia so soon after arriving.

Ambassador Drago, who submitted his credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Nov. 7, 2006, is leaving Saturday on a new assignment to Venezuela.

""Yes, I and my family will be leaving Indonesia this Saturday. We will first go to Santiago and then to Caracas in early August,"" Drago told The Jakarta Post in an exclusive interview at his office earlier this week.

The reason for the sudden move?

""There is nothing wrong. My minister (Chile's Minister of Foreign Affairs Alejandro Foxley Rioseco) wants my services in Caracas. I am a career diplomat. Wherever my services are required, I am ready to go there.""

There is a big difference between Drago and his predecessor, James Sinclair, in terms of length of stay in Indonesia.

""Previous ambassador (Sinclair) stayed here for more than six years, an unprecedented thing in diplomacy. Now this ambassador just stayed for eight months, an unprecedented thing also,"" an Indonesian scholar, who preferred not to be identified, said on hearing the news.

""Yes, it is true. But it is common in diplomacy,"" Drago said.

He reminisced about some of the significant moments of his brief tenure in Indonesia, and said relations between the two countries are progressing.

""I am very happy to be here. We find lot of support from Indonesian authorities in performing our duties,"" Drago said.

The successful visit by Chile's deputy foreign minister Alberto van Klaveren in May, Drago said, was the best example of cooperation between the two countries.

Last month, with the help of the Indonesian State Ministry for Administrative Reforms and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Drago organized a seminar on bureaucratic reforms in Chile.

According to Drago, who joined the Chilean foreign service in 1980 and has worked in Peru, Greece, China, Italy and Singapore, relations between Chile and Indonesia are moving in the right direction.

During his eight-month stay in Jakarta, Drago not only skillfully nurtured these ties but also contributed actively to cementing the existing relationship.

""Our relations are excellent. Even our bilateral trade value has already surpassed the pre-crisis level. Last year our trade value reached US$359 million, an impressive growth from just $166 million in 1998,"" Drago, a graduate of Catholic University of Chile, said.

Indonesia mainly exports rubber, coal, footwear, yarn, textiles, electronic equipment, paper and garments to Chile. Its main imports from Chile are refined copper, iron ore, chemical wood pulp, flour, chemical fertilizer, fruits, newsprint and wine.

The balance of trade is almost even with Indonesian exports and imports reaching $175 million and $184 million respectively in 2006.

Not only that, Drago said, some Chilean pension funds recently invested some $250 million in Indonesian government bonds.

In a step forward, Indonesia and Chile will soon start negotiations to conclude a treaty on a mechanism for the facilitation of trade.

""If we have this mechanism, our trade will grow further,"" Drago said.

Moreover, the ambassador said, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda will visit Chile next month.

""The Indonesian foreign minister's visit will certainly boost our relations. It will be a new start.""

In his opinion, both countries have huge potential, and Drago is optimistic the relations between the two will reach new heights.

""We are already working closely in the international arena. We would like to buy gas from Indonesia. If we can succeed in doing this, our bilateral trade will be in the billions (of dollars). I see a bright future.

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