President and Foreign Affairs Minister Difficult to Communicate
Monday, 24 March, 2008 | 13:35 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said through his spokesperson, Andi Mallarangeng, that he has difficulty in communicating with Foreign Affairs Minister, Hassan Wirajuda. The President issued a presidential regulation designating a deputy Foreign Affairs Minister.

The regulation was signed by Yudhoyono before he left for an overseas visit on March 10-19. Andi stressed that the deputy position is not a political position. “Most probably, the position will filled by someone from the Foreign Affairs Department,” he said in Jakarta yesterday.

According to Andi, the communication barrier between President and Foreign Affairs Minister is not because they do not have a harmonious relationship. “The relationship between the President and the minister is fine,” Andi said. The problem is due to Hassan’s activities that makes it difficult for the two of them to communicate.

Hassan, Andi said, often attends bilateral and multilateral meetings outside the country. Therefore, the President needs a Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, “to give advice on international relations to the President when he needs it.”

According to Andi, the position of Foreign Affairs Minister cannot be replaced by the Director General. “The President needs advice from an official on the same level as the Minister.”

Andi did not mention what per cent of the time Hassan was in and out of the country. “Only in the last three years, he has many international meetings to attend,” he said.

Up until yesterday, Hassan Wirajuda, still cannot be contacted, but spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Department, Kristiarto Legowo, said the President had consulted with Hassan Wirajuda, before issuing the regulation. “So, this is purely about trying to find a solution. There is no political reason or that the minister is in bad health.

Criticism comes from Parliament. Head of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission, Theo L. Sambuaga, said to appoint an official on the same level as the Minister should follow the existing regulations. “It is not that easy,” he said. Moreover, according to Theo, Minister Hassan never complains about his work.

A Member of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Yudi Krisnandi, said the need for having a position of deputy minister is not urgent. “The Foreign Affairs Minister can still manage the international duties and internal department without a deputy,” he said.

According to Yudi, the presence of a deputy minister will be a burden for the state budget. In other words, this step is not economical. “The government should not add new positions,” he said.

Yudi said the President should consult with Parliament (DPR) for appointing a deputy minister. “It is related to the state funds (APBN) to allocate the salary for a new position,” he said. If the President insists, he said, the DPR will ask the President to also appoint deputies for Defense Minister and Home Affairs Minister.”These two ministers are not any less busy.”

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