Foreign minister's Australian visit seeks to promote mutual
\ninterests<\/p>\n
The recently completed visit to Australia and New Zealand from
\nNov. 28 to Dec. 1 by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda
\nwas aimed at boosting relationships and cooperation in the West
\nPacific region.<\/p>\n
As the first official of Indonesia's new government to visit
\nAustralia, it was hoped that Wirajuda could improve the recently
\ndeteriorating bilateral relations, which had appeared to improve
\nwith Gus Dur's visit to Australia in the final days of his
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
Last August, relations between the two countries became tense
\nwhen Canberra denied entry to Middle Eastern asylum seekers, many
\nof whom departed from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Australia's Prime Minister John Howard insisted Indonesia, not
\nAustralia, be responsible for the asylum seekers, who had been
\nrescued by a Norwegian vessel in August from an Indonesian ferry.<\/p>\n
Diplomatic relations stagnated and President Megawati even
\nrefused a phone call from Howard.<\/p>\n
In September, Australia's foreign minister Alexander Downer
\nand two colleagues visited Jakarta to urge Indonesia to deal with
\nthe problem of human smuggling.<\/p>\n
This has worsened bilateral relations, which collapsed
\nfollowing the 1999 appointment of Australia to lead the United
\nNations peace-keeping troops in East Timor, a former Indonesian
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
So, Wirajuda's Australian visit may ease bilateral tension. An
\ninternational conference on migration will be jointly held by
\nboth countries in February 2002. Clearly, direct contact is much
\nbetter than \"megaphone diplomacy\", a term Wirajuda is fond of
\nusing.<\/p>\n
The two countries must realize that the global economic
\nslowdown and uncertainty following the Sept. 11 tragedy in the US
\nwill intensify the flow of illegal migrants from Central Asia and
\nthe Middle East.<\/p>\n
Naturally, prosperous Australia is their destination. As
\nIndonesia remains chaotic, illegal immigrants will, naturally,
\nseize the loopholes to go to Australia through Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The two foreign ministers have agreed that both countries will
\ntake part in a campaign to prevent Indonesians from being
\ninvolved in human smuggling and have reminded fishermen and crews
\nof ships of the criminal consequences if they are discovered to
\nhave helped illegal migrants enter Australia.<\/p>\n
This ministerial discussion must be fruitful and may pave the
\nway for a summit meeting between the two countries early next
\nyear, perhaps in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A good neighborly relationship is not always free of problems.
\nHowever, if it is based on good understanding and trust, problems
\ncan always be solved. Then, no more statements to worsen the
\nsituation need to be made every time the relationship goes sour.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-ministers-australian-visit-seeks-to-promote-mutual-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }