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Five ambassadors to leave RI after successful missions
Moving from one country to another is a common thing in the diplomatic circle
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Moving from one country to another is a common thing in the diplomatic circle. But if an ambassador develops an emotional attachment to a particular country, it gets very difficult to leave that country,
In the coming weeks, at least five ambassadors will be leaving after successful completion of their tenures in Jakarta. They are the long-serving Slovak Ambassador Peter Holasek, Canadian Ambassador John Holmes, Pakistani Ambassador Maj. Gen. (ret) Ali Baz, Hungarian Ambassador Mihaly Illes and Belgian Ambassador Marc Trenteseau.
Ambassador Holasek is the senior-most foreign envoy in town, having assumed his duties here in November 2003. He found it very difficult to leave Indonesia.
"I am under stress now. Within two weeks I will be leaving this beautiful country. If you a serve a long time in a country like Indonesia, you will have wonderful memories and friends," Holasek told The Jakarta Post recently.
Holasek, who speaks fluent Indonesian, also served in Indonesia around two decades ago, as a junior diplomat in Jakarta.
Ambassador Ali Baz is also facing the same problem.
"I always say Indonesia is my second home. I have to leave now after completion of my tenure here," Ali Baz, who has a special relationship with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said.
A retired military general, Ali Baz first lived in Indonesia from 1987-1989 to learn Indonesian in Jakarta, and took part in a military course alongside Yudhoyono in Bandung, West Java. He submitted his credentials to President Yudhoyono in 2006.
In the case of Ambassador Illes, it is a different story. Though he never lived in Indonesia prior to his present posting, he has developed a special love for the country.
"I am very proud to speak Indonesian, which I learned in Russia a long time ago. Since then I like Indonesia very much," Illes said.
Both Ambassador Holmes and Trenteseau are very active diplomats in town. They raised significantly their countries' profiles in Indonesia. Both came to Indonesia in 2006.
As these five friends of Indonesia are leaving, several friends, both Indonesian and foreign, have been organizing numerous farewell parties.
Last Wednesday, Greek Ambassador Dimitri Tsikouris hosted a farewell dinner for Holmes, Illes and Trenteseau. Gandhi Seva Lokha will also be organizing a farewell party for Ali Baz next week.
