Australia and RI in talks to repair ties<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (Reuters): Indonesia and Australia began two days of
\nlong-delayed ministerial talks here on Thursday aimed at
\nrepairing a bilateral relationship badly damaged by Australia's
\ndecision to lead a multinational force to East Timor.<\/p>\n
The meeting got underway nearly five hours behind schedule
\nafter a last-minute postponement at Indonesia's request, but
\nAustralian foreign minister Alexander Downer said the tone of the
\nfirst session was friendly and constructive.<\/p>\n
\"I'm pleased with the way the meeting is developing so far,\"
\nDowner told reporters during a break in the meeting.<\/p>\n
Australia hopes the talks, originally scheduled for October,
\nwill pave the way for an on-again, off-again visit by Indonesian
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, who faces emotional opposition in
\nJakarta to any restoration of relations with Canberra.<\/p>\n
Indonesian legislators and many opinion leaders are angry at
\nAustralia for leading the UN-mandated force into East Timor in
\n1999 after pro-Jakarta militias went on a rampage of violence
\nfollowing a vote for independence from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
They have also accused Australia of supporting Irian Jaya's
\nindependence push. Canberra used the meeting to deny the charge.<\/p>\n
\"We have reaffirmed to the Indonesians our commitment to
\nIndonesia's territorial integrity,\" Downer said.<\/p>\n
\"We've made the point that we strongly support Irian Jaya
\nremaining part of Indonesia, we don't give any comfort to those
\nwho seek independence of Irian Jaya.\"<\/p>\n
The Canberra talks are the highest level bilateral meeting
\nsince relations plunged after the East Timor crisis.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian delegation includes foreign minister Alwi
\nShihab, trade and industry minister Luhut Pandjaitan, education
\nminister Yahya Muhaimin, agriculture and forestry minister
\nBungaran Saragih and maritime and fisheries minister Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja, according to an embassy official.<\/p>\n
Downer leads the 10-member Australian delegation, which also
\nincludes trade minister Mark Vaile, treasurer Peter Costello,
\nimmigration minister Philip Ruddock, industry minister Nick
\nMinchin and agriculture minister Warren Truss.<\/p>\n
Indonesian officials were briefed last week in Jakarta on
\nAustralia's new defense policy paper, unveiled on Wednesday, and
\nCanberra hopes to rebuild bilateral defense links.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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