ABSTRACT
Successes of diplomacy are not always reported through media stories about the signing of major international treaties but are often unheralded, based on small actions and relationships which build confidence, trust, and stability in bilateral relations. Numerous agencies of the US government have for many years maintained science and technology or technical assistance relationships with counterpart agencies in foreign governments, with the approval of the US State Department. Technical assistance for mining environmental policy was not created as an integral part of a proposal for an international development project loan by the Indonesian National Planning Agency or staff of the World Bank. The Sumatera and Kalimantan Power Project included several physical components related to rural electrification and a major policy component affecting reform of Persero, the government-owned national power company. A question concerning payment of honoraria had a similar basis. Salaries for Indonesian government employees are generally paid in cash, do not provide a living wage, and therefore be supplemented.
