RI envoys to meet next week to review diplomacy

Tony Hotland ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 03/29/2008 11:12 AM  |  World

Indonesian envoys worldwide will gather here next week for a three-day meeting to appraise diplomatic performance and adjust foreign policies to the latest global changes, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Friday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has been on a mission to strengthen Indonesia's position in global diplomacy, is slated to open the meeting Wednesday.

Hassan said the meeting sought to consolidate officials in Jakarta and diplomats overseas as Indonesian representatives.

The validity of government foreign policies also will be discussed.

"The meeting is also in anticipation of 2009 to provide input for the next series of diplomatic activities for the 2009-2014 period because foreign policies should be consistent," he said.

Indonesia will hold its general elections in 2009.

"We are also going to review whether or not the goals we targeted in our last meeting have been achieved and see what works and what doesn't," Hassan said.

The success of Indonesian diplomacy, he said, could be assessed in quantitative and qualitative terms.

"While the qualitative ones are more difficult to review, the quantitative ones are easier to see.

For instance, we have established a maximum three-hour citizen service at several representative offices. Some have managed to do so, others have not. We could be low on staff.

We have stated we will prioritize departments directly dealing with our citizens overseas in terms of staff numbers," said Hassan.

Next week, the ministry will have its second meeting of three scheduled. The first one was in December 2004.

"We wanted to do it three times -- at the start of the administration, at the middle and the end. Next week's meeting should have been held earlier," said Hassan.

Asked if the meeting would also provide a chance for him to discuss the controversial vice minister post with the diplomats, Hassan only laughed.

Hassan said he would submit two names to the President for approval. The post is to be filled by a diplomat of echelon I level, the highest rank in the bureaucracy, including positions such as secretary-general and director-general.

Some of the hundreds of Indonesian envoys overseas are eligible for the new post.

The new post was created by a presidential decree early this month.

Hassan did not say Friday if there was a deadline for the selection. "We are doing this one step at a time."

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