Aussie-RI ties beyond just good neighbors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian-Australian relations are moving
\nbeyond being simply two good neighbors, and into a more pragmatic
\none, that promises to be mutually beneficial.<\/p>\n
Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, Allan Taylor, stressed
\nthis fact yesterday, pointing to the principles of tangible and
\nmutual benefits which guide the relationship between the two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Taylor contends that neither Canberra nor Jakarta sought \"to
\ndevelop the bilateral relationship simply for the sake of having
\ngood relations.\"<\/p>\n
\"Good relations in themselves achieve little,\" he told an
\naudience at the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents' Club. The text of
\nhis presentation was made available to The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He noted Canberra's fundamental motives for cultivating the
\nrelationship as lying in the geographical proximity and the
\npotential of Indonesia as a market for Australian products.<\/p>\n
The closeness of the two-countries, according to Taylor,
\n\"gives Australia major strategic interests in Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Taylor went further to espouse his argument when he quoted the
\nAustralian defense policy White Paper which established defense
\nrelationship with Jakarta as being the most important in the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is particularly important to the security of
\nAustralia and in the strategic affairs of the region,\" Taylor
\nsaid quoting the Defending Australia document released in
\nNovember.<\/p>\n
The second reason for Australia's interest in Indonesia was
\nthe potential market of having a population estimated at over 300
\nmillion by the middle of the next century.<\/p>\n
Taylor said that if Indonesia maintains its current level of
\ngrowth, within 55 years it could have a larger economy than what
\nJapan has today.<\/p>\n
\"By 2020 Indonesia could be our fifth largest export
\ndestination. It is now our tenth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta and Canberra have gone through up and down periods in
\nits relationship. However, the advent of Prime Minister Paul
\nKeating has marked a considerable improvement in ties.<\/p>\n
Keating himself has often stated that \"no country is more
\nimportant to Australia than Indonesia.\"<\/p>\n
Ambassador Taylor acknowledges that the relationship has not
\nalways been smooth. \"There have been difficult times. For example
\nin the mid 1980s.\"<\/p>\n
Nevertheless he believes that the current prevailing situation
\nis a conducive one where it is not only a matter of Australia
\nlooking north but of Indonesia also beginning to look south.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the Indonesian political system has gained a
\ngreater appreciation of the potential Australia provides for
\nIndonesia as a political, economic and defense partner,\" Taylor
\ncommented.<\/p>\n
Though he did not elaborate his reasons, Taylor may have
\nassumed such perceptions due to Vice President Try Sutrisno's
\ntrip to Canberra last September.<\/p>\n
Try is the highest ranking official from Indonesia to visit
\nAustralia in nearly 20 years. In contrast, Keating has made four
\ntrips to Indonesia in the past four years. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aussie-ri-ties-beyond-just-good-neighbors-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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