FOR Mohamad Wahid Supriyadi, 58, his assignment as ambassador to Russia has been somewhat undemanding. Without having to work extra hard, invitations from various parts of Russia have flooded his office desk. Of the 18 states he has visited in the past one and a half years in office, half were at the invitation of local governments and communities. It seems that President Sukarno's popularity among Russians is the secret.

Wahid came to realize th