Keating starts RI visit amid press ban fury<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating arrived
\nhere yesterday for a three-day trip to lend support to an on-
\ngoing huge Australian trade and cultural promotion program.<\/p>\n
In his third trip to Indonesia in two years, Keating is
\nscheduled to meet with President Soeharto and other senior
\nofficials today before he opens the Australian expo tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Keating has kept everyone guessing whether or not he will
\nraise last week's closure of three weeklies, Tempo, Editor and
\nDeTIK when he meets with President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Keating has said he would not make a big issue of the media
\ncrackdown but his foreign minister Gareth Evans had earlier said
\nthe prime minister might raise Australia's concern over the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
Keating has repeatedly stressed the importance of bilateral
\nlinks, saying Australia's economic, political, security and
\nregional interests are all heavily engaged there.<\/p>\n
Reuter reported yesterday that, hours before leaving for
\nJakarta, Keating played down calls for Australia to protest the
\nmedia bans, saying that the move was all part of a longer-term
\nprocess of opening up Indonesian society.<\/p>\n
\"We will witness in many countries similar to Indonesia ...
\nfour steps forward and one back,\" he told Australian Broadcasting
\nCorp radio.<\/p>\n
Keating means to use his visit to strengthen bilateral
\nrelations and discuss the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic
\nCooperation (APEC) scheduled for November in Bogor, West Java.<\/p>\n
He described Indonesia as \"a vast powerhouse of growth, of
\nwealth and of demand,\" in which more than 200 Australian
\ncompanies were represented.<\/p>\n
Two-way bilateral trade is worth more than US$2.2 billion a
\nyear, while exports to Indonesia had tripled over the past six
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's ambassador to Australia, Sabam P. Siagian, said
\nafter meeting with President Soeharto yesterday that the
\nbilateral relations had improved over the past few years.<\/p>\n
He said Keating's frequent visits and the Australian press'
\nbetter understanding of Indonesia had made Australians more
\nsensitive and friendly towards Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Several Australian publications, the Australian Associated
\nPress, Australia TV, The Australian daily and the Australian
\nFinancial Review have their bureaus in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Benefit<\/p>\n
Sabam said Indonesia greatly benefits from its good relations
\nwith Australia.<\/p>\n
After completing its first 25 year development phase, now
\nIndonesia needs more sophisticated input such as technology, data
\nbases and management skills, he said.<\/p>\n
He added that during his third Indonesian visit, Keating would
\nfocus his talks with Indonesian officials on problems facing the
\n18 APEC member countries.<\/p>\n
Australian exports to Indonesia have grown an average of 26
\npercent a year over the past five years and Indonesia looks as if
\nit will continue to provide a good market for Australian
\nbusinesses and trade over the next decade.<\/p>\n
The Australia Today Indonesia '94, the largest trade and
\ncultural promotion ever undertaken by Australia in Indonesia, is
\na joint venture between the two governments and the private
\nsector.<\/p>\n
Keating will inaugurate the Expanding Horizons Business
\nMission and Forum tomorrow. This organization will bring in over
\n350 Australian business executives lead by Senator McMullan, the
\nAustralian trade minister, for a meeting with their Indonesian
\ncounterparts. (pan)<\/p>\n
Press -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/keating-starts-ri-visit-amid-press-ban-fury-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }