Ali Alatas: Dedicated to Diplomacy

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

HE brought world respect to Indonesian diplomacy. Ali Alex Alatas, one of Indonesias renowned diplomats, was the countrys Foreign Minister for 12 years from 1987 to 1999. He played a key role in the settlement of the Cambodian conflict and in the signing of a peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front. A one-time Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, Alatas broke into tears upon learning of the separation of East Timor from the Republic of Indonesia in 1999. Although he retired from the Foreign Affairs Department, the 74-year-old is still active with a variety of diplomatic assignments.

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I WAS born in Jakarta on November 4, 1932, the third of six children in the family. My father Abdullah S. Alatas was a lecturer in Arab language and literature at the University of Indonesia. I never dreamt of being a diplomat. In high school, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer, so I read a lot of legal texts. I thought learning and mastering law would enable me to think systematically and dare to argue publicly in search of truth.

After graduating fro

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