Candid Diplomacy

ALMOST half an hour had passed but the discussion between President Joko Widodo and US President Barrack Obama, scheduled for just 20 minutes, continued. Joko was already expected at another bilateral meeting with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang on the sidelines of the High-Level Asia-Africa Economic Cooperation Summit (KTT APEC) in Beijing, China, on Monday last week.

Joko and Obama's meeting at the Westin Hotel covered a variety of issues, from terrorism to Ebola. Joko and accompanying officials paid close attention to each statement while writing down important points. Then, suddenly, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto recalled, Obama uttered, "Finally, I have one last question." The Indonesian delegation prepared to take note. Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Menteng, Central Jakarta, said, "Is grilled fish still available on Puncak?" Joko chuckled. So did members of his entourage. He answered, "Certainly there still is, plenty of it, causing traffic jams."

November 18, 2014