Australia 'smooths' Indonesia-U.S. relations<\/p>\n
HOBART, Australia (AFP): Australia has played a behind-the-
\nscenes role in healing a rift between the United States and
\nIndonesia, Prime Minister John Howard revealed yesterday.<\/p>\n
Howard confirmed media reports of a previously undisclosed
\nagreement for senior Australian and American officials to discuss
\nIndonesia, with the first meeting in Washington on September 16.<\/p>\n
Australia could only gain from using its "unique" position to
\nhelp smooth relations between two of its most important friends,
\nhe said, after Washington's criticism of human rights abuses
\nthreatened to harm relations.<\/p>\n
Howard confirmed here that he had raised the issue with
\nPresident Bill Clinton in Washington in June.<\/p>\n
He told Clinton that Australia had a "particular knowledge of
\nthis region and particular knowledge of circumstances inside
\nIndonesia" and that it could help explain to the Americans what
\nwas happening in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Clinton had responded favorably and, as a result, working
\nparties of officials from both sides had got together.<\/p>\n
"I think it's a prime example of where a country such as
\nAustralia with good relations with Indonesia, exceptionally close
\nrelations with the U.S., is able to play a positive role," Howard
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"And it's in our interests that the Americans remain involved
\nin the region, in our interests that Americans properly
\nunderstand the dynamics of the Indonesian polity and the dynamics
\nof the Indonesian economy."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-smooths-indonesia-us-relations-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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