ENJOY YOUR STAY: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (far right) briefs new ambassadors from seven countries following the presentation of their credential letters at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

The presence of Myanmar's new ambassador to Indonesia U Nyan Lynn ceased to be a political question mark after he formally submitted his credentials during a state ceremony at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday.

"I admit there has been a slight delay but issues related to the delay have been overcome and the President is very pleased to receive his credentials," presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal told The Jakarta Post.

"The President expressed his desire to strengthen relations with Myanmar and said our country would continue to be supportive of Myanmar's efforts to advance its roadmap to democracy...."

The House of Representatives has expressed concern and reservation over Myanmar's human rights progress and recommended delaying both Lynn's arrival in Jakarta and his Indonesian counterpart Sebastian Sumarsono's departure for Myanmar.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also received credential letters from Zhang Qiyue from China, Kim Ho-young from South Korea, Philippe Zeller from France, Eivind S. Homme from Norway, Ibrahim Bushra Mohamed Ali from Sudan and Tarik Bukvic from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Yudhoyono was accompanied by State Secretary Hatta Rajasa and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi during the ceremony.

Prior to coming to Jakarta, Lynn was Myanmar's ambassador to Bangladesh.

With the appointment of Chinese Ambassador Qiyue, the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta will be run by mainly women. Qiyue's deputy head of mission Yang Lingzhu is also a woman.

Qiyue previously worked as a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman and Chinese ambassador to Belgium.

South Korean Ambassador Kim is a senior government official whose last posting was as the second vice minister of foreign affairs and trade at the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

French Ambassador Zeller is also a career diplomat. Prior to coming to Jakarta, Zeller was ambassador to Hungary.

Norwegian Ambassador Homme, who joined the Foreign Ministry in 1984, has worked in Manila, Rome, Washington and Beijing in various positions at Norwegian diplomatic missions.

Sudanese Ambassador Ali is a career diplomat who joined Sudan's Foreign Ministry in 1988. His previous postings were in Chad (1993-1997) and Syria (2001-2005).

Ali worked as deputy director for ceremonies at the Foreign Ministry in Khartoum prior to his posting in Jakarta.

Bosnia-Herzegovina's Ambassador Bukvic is also a career diplomat. Previously he worked in Ottawa, Riyadh and Doha. His last posting was as a councilor at the Foreign Ministry dealing with United Nations and other international organizations.

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