Indonesian missions abroad are expected to improve their geopolitical and economic agendas, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo told 17 newly inaugurated ambassadors at the State Palace on Monday.

The ambassadors were among 23 envoys who passed confirmation screenings at the House of Representatives in December. The remaining envoys will be inaugurated later this year.

Hasan Kleib, the new permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations, serving in Geneva, Switzerland, will face a tough task to secure support for Indonesia’s bid for UN Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent membership for the 2019 to 2020 term.

It will be a challenge for Hasan because he has to convince the UN that Indonesia has done enough to promote and protect human rights in the country.

Indonesia launched the bid last year despite the UN’s repeated condemnation of the country’s recent enforcement of the death penalty for drug convicts.

Hasan said his new post was as crucial as that of the permanent representative to the UN in New York to garner support for the UNSC non-permanent membership bid because Indonesia held membership in various Geneva-based international organizations.

The Foreign Ministry’s director general for multilateral affairs said he would step up efforts to lobby countries to support the cause.

“I am optimistic about it. We have much support as of today and we still need to achieve the required quorum of 129 countries. The selection is slated for July 2018 and usually much support comes at the last minute,” he said after being inaugurated.

Among other important tasks awaiting Hasan is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council on May 3.

Another envoy, Andy Rachmianto, posted to Jordan and Palestine, said he was tasked by Jokowi to intensify efforts to push for independence for Palestine through a two-state solution.

He said a recent meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had brought new complexities as it forced Indonesia to find alternative ways to push for the two-state solution that received backing from countries in Europe.

Despite being one of Jokowi’s promises during the 2014 presidential campaign, Indonesia has limitations in pushing for Palestinian independence as Jakarta does not have diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.

However, Andy said Indonesia would not lose hope and would lobby Israel through Jordan as the countries had diplomatic relations.

“My short-term goal is to establish close relations with the King of Jordan, who has a unique position and is known in the Middle East as the guardian of the Al Aqsa Mosque. He is highly respected in the region,” Andy said.

“Egypt also has diplomatic relations with Israel and we are looking forward to establishing communications with Egypt to support our cause.”

Earlier in the morning, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi gave assurances that the remaining ambassador-designates who were not inaugurated at the State Palace on Monday had not yet received administrative approval for their appointments, nixing any speculation that the respective destination countries were deliberately holding back certain people from assuming ambassadorial posts.

“They have not received their agreements yet,” Retno told reporters on the sidelines of a regional nuclear nonproliferation forum.

Other envoys inaugurated on Monday included Priyo Iswanto, who will be posted in Colombia; Kristiarto Legowo to Australia; Maj. Gen. (ret) Arief Rachman to Afghanistan; Yuddy Chrisnandi to Ukraine, Armenia and Georgia; Rachmat Pramono to Kazakhstan; and Tantowi Yahya to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga.

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