Dino Appointed as New Deputy Foreign Minister

Jakarta 14 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday swore in former Indonesian ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal as deputy foreign minister, replacing Wardana who has been appointed as Indonesian ambassador to Turkey. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State Palace here at 03.00 p.m. on Monday. Dino is expected to occupy the post for three months until the United Indonesia Cabinet II ends in October 2014. Born in Belgrade on September 10, 1965, Dino Patti Djalal is the son of international law expert Hasyim Djalal. He started his diplomatic career when he joined the Foreign Ministry in 1987. Dino was the ministry's director for North and Central American affairs and presidential spokesman before he was appointed the Indonesian ambassador to the US. He had been engaged in practical politics when he joined the ruling Democratic Party's presidential candidate convention some time ago. However, the party did not nominate its candidate in the presidential poll following its low vote tally in the April 9 legislative election. Before being a participant of the convention, Dino who was bestowed with a doctorate degree in international affairs from the London School of Economics and Political Science had tendered his resignation from the post of the Indonesian ambassador to the US. (*) Reporting by Muhammad Razi Rahman