{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1420988,
        "msgid": "first-steps-taken-to-rebuild-australia-ri-relations-downer-1447893297",
        "date": "1999-12-21 00:00:00",
        "title": "'First steps' taken to rebuild Australia-RI relations: Downer",
        "author": null,
        "source": "AFP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "'First steps' taken to rebuild Australia-RI relations: Downer MACAU (AFP): The \"first steps\" to restoring relations between Australia and Indonesia have been taken on the sidelines of Macau's handover ceremony, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Monday. At a press conference here, Downer said he held a \"cordial\" and \"successful\" meeting with his Indonesian opposite number Alwi Shihab, the first since ties plummeted this summer following the East Timor crisis.",
        "content": "<p>'First steps' taken to rebuild Australia-RI relations: Downer<\/p>\n<p>MACAU (AFP): The \"first steps\" to restoring relations between<br>\nAustralia and Indonesia have been taken on the sidelines of<br>\nMacau's handover ceremony, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander<br>\nDowner said Monday.<\/p>\n<p>At a press conference here, Downer said he held a \"cordial\"<br>\nand \"successful\" meeting with his Indonesian opposite number Alwi<br>\nShihab, the first since ties plummeted this summer following the<br>\nEast Timor crisis.<\/p>\n<p>\"We have taken the first steps in the task of rebuilding of<br>\npolitical relations with Indonesia,\" Downer told reporters.<\/p>\n<p>\"There was a positive atmosphere, a real commitment on both<br>\nsides. Both states recognize the importance of the two countries<br>\nto each other, they need a good relationship back on track,\" he<br>\nsaid.<\/p>\n<p>\"Mr Shihab made it clear that was what he wanted to do and we<br>\nmade it clear.\"<\/p>\n<p>Downer added he would be making an official visit to Indonesia<br>\nearly in the New Year to attempt to further improve ties with<br>\nAustralia's neighbor.<\/p>\n<p>\"That will be the second significant step that we will be<br>\ntaking in the reconstruction of our political relations,\" he<br>\nsaid.<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral ties nosedived after Jakarta perceived Canberra as<br>\nbeing overzealous and being insensitive to Indonesia's own<br>\nsituation during the East Timor affair.<\/p>\n<p>Relations soured further after Australia was appointed to lead<br>\nthe UN-sanctioned International Force for East Timor which was<br>\ndeployed in the territory on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said<br>\nCanberra's attitude towards Jakarta was \"childish.\"<\/p>\n<p>Downer also told reporters he met East Timor's independence<br>\nleader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao and the head of the United<br>\nNations Transitional Administration in East Timor Sergio Vieira<br>\nde Mello.<\/p>\n<p>He commented that de Mello had restored previously rocky<br>\nrelations between the East Timorese and non-governmental aid<br>\ngroups, whom the local population had accused of acting without<br>\nconsultation.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/first-steps-taken-to-rebuild-australia-ri-relations-downer-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}