Australia to strive for better relations with Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Australia will give priority to practical
\nmeasures in business, economics and education as part of an
\neffort to improve strained ties with Indonesia, Australian
\nAmbassador Richard Campbell Smith said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after a luncheon with the Indonesia-
\nAustralia Business Council (IABC), Smith said it was more
\nimportant for Canberra to focus on practical work that touched
\nthe lives of the people.<\/p>\n
\"We are focusing on the area of practical work...the bigger
\npicture will work itself out. Business, economics, education and
\ncommunications between ministers are what I think will be the
\nmost important,\" Smith said.<\/p>\n
Smith presented his credentials to President Abdurrahman Wahid
\non Jan. 17, replacing John Mc Carthy. He once served as
\nAustralian envoy to the People's Republic of China and is said to
\nbe one of the most senior diplomats in Canberra.<\/p>\n
He further said that defense matters would not be the first
\npriority to receive attention, saying that military ties between
\nthe two countries would grow over time.<\/p>\n
Smith underlined that the ministerial forum involving the two
\ncountries which was held late last year had formulated an entire
\nplan of action in the economic field and that Canberra was
\nwilling to see the action plan through so as to improve strained
\nties.<\/p>\n
\"We are going to work from there as well as through working
\ngroups to deal with all kinds of problems and so on,\" Smith
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Smith also announced that next week a group of Australian
\ncompanies that are interested in investing in Indonesia would pay
\na visit to see the business opportunities available in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot name a figure (for possible investments), but the
\nmost important thing is that we try to make them come here and
\ntake a look at the situation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bilateral ties between the two countries have gone through an
\nextremely difficult period since Australia led a multinational
\nforce into East Timor last year.<\/p>\n
On December, ministers from Indonesia and Australia held a
\ntwo-day meeting in Canberra and conducted high-level discussions
\nin an effort to further jump start ties while focusing on
\nenhanced economic relations.<\/p>\n
Smith admitted that there had been strains, as everybody was
\naware, over the last couple of years between the two countries.
\nHowever, after the December meeting, the governments managed to
\ninject some new thinking so as to enhance relations.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the current political situation in Indonesia,
\nSmith said: \"What we want to see is a united and democratic
\nIndonesia, one in which the rule of law prevails. Apart from
\nthat, what happens here is Indonesia's business.\" (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/australia-to-strive-for-better-relations-with-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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