RI-Australia ties stronger than ever<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The rapport between President Soeharto and Prime
\nMinister Paul Keating may be the main force behind the strong
\nrelations between the two countries, but Australian Ambassador
\nAllan Taylor insists that ties have actually moved beyond the
\nupper crust of government officials.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a discussion at The Jakarta Post, the Australian
\nambassador recounted the strengthening ties between Jakarta and
\nCanberra and how they have helped overcome the political storms
\nthat occasionally crop up.<\/p>\n
"The structures that have been set in place go beyond the
\npeople who set the structure in place," he replied when asked
\nwhether he believed the seemingly close ties would persist.<\/p>\n
Relations between Indonesia and Australia have been precarious
\nfor several years.<\/p>\n
From once being perceived as a security threat, Indonesia has
\noften been the target of Australian criticisms which at times put
\nthe improving relationship in jeopardy.<\/p>\n
The latest incident was last year when Indonesia withdrew the
\nnomination of Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.B.L. Mantiri as ambassador to
\nCanberra after public demands in Australia that he apologize for
\na past remark he made about East Timor. At the time, the
\nwithdrawal threatened to put the relationship in peril as Jakarta
\nannounced it would leave the post vacant indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Many have pointed out that each time contentious circumstances
\narise, the overall relationship has remained secure due to the
\nunderstanding and friendship established between Indonesia's
\nPresident Soeharto and Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating.<\/p>\n
The attention given Indonesia is evident in Keating's six
\nvisits here in four years.<\/p>\n
This personal approach was enhanced further by the synergy
\nbetween the two countries' foreign ministers, Indonesia's Ali
\nAlatas and Australia's Gareth Evans, to build a relationship
\nwhich would not be swayed by individual or minor squabbles.<\/p>\n
As Taylor himself described, the strength and wealth of the
\nrelationship "goes beyond individual governments".<\/p>\n
He explained that the strengthening in relations really began
\nto blossom in the late 1980s. From that point on, there has not
\nonly been stronger ties but also a broadening of the relationship
\nwhich involves more "people-to-people contact".<\/p>\n
Taylor pointed out how the number of Indonesians studying at
\nAustralian universities has grown each year. In 1995 some 6,000
\nstudent visas were given out by the Australian Embassy here,
\nwhile the previous year it was 5,000.<\/p>\n
In the Australian school curriculum Bahasa Indonesia is
\nincluded as one of the optional foreign languages, along with
\nJapanese, Chinese and Korean.<\/p>\n
Commercial ties are also booming with about 300 Australian
\ncompanies doing business and investing here.<\/p>\n
Taylor said that much of Indonesia's attractiveness for
\nAustralian companies is due to the stability provided by the New
\nOrder government.<\/p>\n
"That has been recognized by Australia," said the ambassador,
\nwho has held the post here since April 1993.<\/p>\n
He added that while trade has shown a healthy growth,
\nAustralian investments here have been less robust.<\/p>\n
Australia is Indonesia's ninth largest investor with total
\napproved investment plans of about US$5.9 billion at the end of
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the mutual security agreement signed in December,
\nTaylor said it is "not threat-based" and not directed against any
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
He maintained that it encapsulates the strong cooperation that
\nhas been going on so far and actually adds to the regional
\nsecurity structure.<\/p>\n
The agreement signed in Jakarta by Alatas and Evans fosters
\ncooperation and dialog between the countries, along with the
\npossibility of more joint exercises by the two countries' armed
\nforces.<\/p>\n
Taylor anticipates that with the mutual cooperation and
\ncontacts established in all fields, future differences that might
\narise can be handled much better. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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