Cabinet Secretariat Holds FGD on Strategic Role of Presidential Letters in Strengthening Diplomacy

Deputy for Cabinet Work Support of the Cabinet Secretariat Thanon Aria Dewangga engages in a dialogue with the keynote speaker for the FGD, Bogor, West Java province, Friday (07/21). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Oji)

Cabinet Secretariat Friday (07/21) held a Forum Group Discussion on the Strategic Role of Presidential Letters in Strengthening Diplomacy in the Digital Age, in Bogor, West Java province.

According to Deputy for Cabinet Work Support of the Cabinet Secretariat Thanon Aria Dewangga, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo still uses letters as a diplomatic tool in the midst of current digital age.

The Deputy went on to say that one of the letters includes Indonesia’s candidacy to host the U-23 World Cup and the Olympics.

“Those letters are not only addressed to Heads of State or Heads of Government but also to Heads of International Organizations. For example, the President of International Association Football Federation (FIFA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and other organizations,” Thanon said.

The letters, he said, will definitely complete other diplomatic efforts made by the President, such as megaphone diplomacy.

“In megaphone diplomacy, the President would make a vlog before a state banquet with the King of Saudi Arabia. It has indeed received excellent appreciation from media activists,” he said.

On that occasion, Thanon also expressed hope that all relevant stakeholders involved in preparing the presidential letters will be able to adapt to technological developments while maintaining existing traditions.

“We strengthen our commitment to remain rooted in our past since the tradition of correspondence has been around for hundreds of years. We also have to focus on the present, the conditions, and situations that occur with the development of information technology and be able to predict what phenomena we are dealing with in the future,” he added.

In the meantime, Cabinet Secretariat’s Deputy Assistant for State Documents and Translation Yuyu Mulyani said that the FGD aims at providing a comprehensive understanding to the stakeholders regarding the important role of presidential letters in building and strengthening diplomatic relations, cooperation, and friendship with friendly countries and international organizations.

“Those involved in preparing the presidential letters are expected to understand well and be able to embody Indonesia’s foreign policy without putting aside the point of intimacy with the recipient of the letter,” she remarked. (RF/UN) (RIF/MUR)