Howard praises Aussie-RI effort<\/p>\n
Agencies, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Australia's prime minister on Wednesday praised the cooperation
\nof his soldiers and Indonesian troops in tsunami relief efforts,
\nwhich Indonesian officials said could usher in \"new intimacy\"
\nbetween the two nations.<\/p>\n
John Howard's comments during a visit to inspect damage in
\nAceh province came five years after ties were strained by
\nAustralia's criticism of the Indonesian Military in East Timor's
\nbloody separation from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Australia has mounted a huge relief effort in Aceh, ravaged by
\nthe Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami. With an aid package of US$770
\nmillion, the country is one of the biggest donors.<\/p>\n
\"The Australian Defense Force and the TNI (Indonesian Armed
\nForces) have worked together harmoniously with one goal, and that
\nis to bring assistance and comfort and help to a people who have
\nbeen tragically struck down by this terrible disaster,\" Howard
\nwas quoted by AFP as saying.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, who
\nstood beside Howard during a visit to Aceh's main Zainoel Abidin
\nHospital, expressed the \"admiration and recognition\" of the
\nIndonesian people for Australia's generosity.<\/p>\n
\"This is an historic moment and a chance for us build better
\nrelations with Australia and forget the past. Let us start with a
\nnew intimacy,\" Alwi said.<\/p>\n
A smiling Howard greeted Australian medical personnel working
\nat the sprawling hospital, where tiled hallways were still
\nsmeared with dirt and workers loaded wheelbarrows with brick-like
\nchunks of mud from the courtyard.<\/p>\n
\"I am very proud of what my fellow Australians have done,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Howard said the tsunami had led Australia to commit its
\nlargest amount yet of foreign aid. Hundreds of Australian troops
\nare now based in Aceh, delivering aid by air, distilling drinking
\nwater, and helping in cleanup efforts.<\/p>\n
\"My first impressions are that nothing I have seen on
\ntelevision captured the extent of the devastation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The whole response to the tsunami has been a reminder of the
\ncommon humanity that we all share and that when you have tragedy
\nyou forget differences. You forget differences of race, religion,
\nof ethnicity, of nationality.\"<\/p>\n
Alwi said Australia would gradually replace its military
\ncontingent with civilian aid workers -- in line with other
\nforeign military missions.<\/p>\n
Howard said that during his visit he had not discussed recent
\npeace talks in Finland between Indonesia and the separatist Free
\nAceh Movement rebels.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir
\nMohamad arrived in Aceh and met senior government officials,
\nAntara said.<\/p>\n
Mahathir also held private meetings with Indonesian Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Alwi Shihab.<\/p>\n
Later Mahathir, accompanied by his wife, daughter and son-in-
\nlaw, visited several sites damaged by the tsunami in and around
\nthe main city of Banda Aceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/howard-praises-aussie-ri-effort-1447893297",
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