I think Brazil needs us more in the two fields."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A legislator has expressed his support to the governments decision to summon back the countrys ambassador-designate to Brazil.

This was done in protest against the Brazilian governments decision to abruptly postpone accepting the credentials of the ambassador-designate.

"The government was right to make this decision, so it is worth supporting. Commission I of the House of Representatives supports the Indonesian governments firm action," Tantowi Yahya, deputy chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), which deals with foreign affairs matters, among others, said here on weekend.

He added that the presentation of credentials was the right of an accredited country. However, canceling the ceremony where the Indonesian ambassador-designate was scheduled to submit his credentials when he, along with other ambassadors, had already arrived at the Presidential Palace was a diplomatic insult that deserved to be protested against.

No country is allowed to dictate other nations with regard to the implementation of their law enforcement system, and Brazil, as a sovereign country, should have known and understood this, Yahya remarked.

"The emotional step taken by the Brazilian government will damage bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields," he stated.

Yahya further noted that Indonesia and Brazil had established good cooperation in the defense field, referring to Indonesia placing an order for Brazilian Super Tucano airplanes to monitor its coastal lines.

Indonesia also ordered for a Multi-Launcher Rocket System from Brazil, he pointed out.

"We will hold discussions with the Ministry of Defense to evaluate the future of cooperation in this sector, if Brazil does not change its attitude," he affirmed.

Moreover, the politician from Golkar Party observed that Brazil, as one of the worlds largest producers of beef, was now seeking entry for its commodity in Indonesia, as well.

"I think Brazil needs us more in the two fields," he said.

Yahya emphasized that as Indonesia was currently facing a "drug emergency" situation, it should neither be afraid of outside pressures, nor should it give in to such pressures from various countries, as experienced from Brazil and Australia.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs deeply regrets the Brazilian governments move to abruptly postpone the presentation of the credentials by the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil, Toto Riyanto, after he was formally invited for the ceremony to be held at the Presidential Palace of Brazil at 9.00 a.m. Brazilian time on February 20.

"The manner in which the Foreign Minister of Brazil suddenly informed that the presentation of credentials by the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil had been postponed, when the ambassador-designate was already at the palace, is unacceptable to Indonesia," a statement on the ministrys official website said on Saturday.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Brazilian Ambassador to Indonesia on February 20 at 22.00 hours to convey the strongest possible terms of protest towards the unfriendly act of the government of Brazil and present a formal note of objection.

The government of Indonesia also recalled the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil to Jakarta, till the government of Brazil determines a time for the presentation of his credentials.

(Reporting by Imam Budilaksono/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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