PANAMA PARTY: Panama’s Ambassador to Indonesia Raul Antonio Eskildsen Arias (second right) poses with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s director for North and Central American affairs Bunyan Saptomo (left), Spanish Ambassador Aurora Bernaldez Dicenta (second left) and Dean of African Diplomats and Mozambique Ambassador Geraldo Antonio Chirinza (right) during a reception to celebrate Panama's National Day at the Ballroom of the Mercantile Athletic Club in Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)
Generally, foreign embassies in Jakarta celebrate their national days with gala receptions, either at hotels, the ambassador's residence or embassy buildings. But on Tuesday Panama celebrated its national day at Jakarta's Mercantile Athletic Club.
At a simple ceremony in the club's ballroom, Panamanian Ambassador to Indonesia, Raul Antonio Eskildsen Arias, welcomed the guests, including senior government officials, Indonesian public figures and foreign diplomats. He then read a special message from Panamanian President Martin Torijos Espino.
"It's the first time we have a message from our President for the celebration in Jakarta", Ambassador Arias said.
Another special feature of the celebration was its earlier timing of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
"This is also the first time we have had the National Day celebration at 5 p.m.", Arias, who is also the Dean of Latin American and Caribbean diplomats, said. Usually, diplomatic receptions are held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Panama celebrates its National Day on Nov. 3. But in Jakarta Panama celebrated the day on Nov. 4.
"Our National Day falls on Monday. But the Algerian Ambassador held his country's National Day on Monday. Since I don't want two national days on one day, I decided to celebrate on Tuesday", Arias said.
Panama and Indonesia enjoy good relations. Around 28,000 Indonesian sailors work on Panamanian vessels, thanks to Arias, who personally recruited most of them.
"We recruit around 600 Indonesian sailors every month", he said.
-- JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|