Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially inaugurated Gen. Moeldoko and Lt. Gen. Budiman as the new Indonesian Military Commander and Army chief of staff, respectively, at the State Palace on Friday.

Moeldoko replaced Adm. Agus Suhartono, who will retire on Sept. 1., and Budiman, who was previously Defense Ministry secretary-general, succeeds Moeldoko, who has just resigned his position as Army chief of staff. First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and his wife Herawati Boediono, Ministers and dignitaries from state institutions, the Indonesian Military and the National Police, as well as relatives of Moeldoko and Budiman all attended the inauguration ceremony.

Moeldoko and Budiman were the top graduates of the Military Academy in 1981 and 1978, respectively. They both had received the Adhi Makayasa medal, kompas.com reported. (hrl/dic)