Howard praises Aussie-RI effort

Howard praises Aussie-RI effort

Agencies, Banda Aceh

Australia's prime minister on Wednesday praised the cooperation
of his soldiers and Indonesian troops in tsunami relief efforts,
which Indonesian officials said could usher in "new intimacy"
between the two nations.

John Howard's comments during a visit to inspect damage in
Aceh province came five years after ties were strained by
Australia's criticism of the Indonesian Military in East Timor's
bloody separation from Indonesia.

Australia has mounted a huge relief effort in Aceh, ravaged by
the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami. With an aid package of US$770
million, the country is one of the biggest donors.

"The Australian Defense Force and the TNI (Indonesian Armed
Forces) have worked together harmoniously with one goal, and that
is to bring assistance and comfort and help to a people who have
been tragically struck down by this terrible disaster," Howard
was quoted by AFP as saying.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, who
stood beside Howard during a visit to Aceh's main Zainoel Abidin
Hospital, expressed the "admiration and recognition" of the
Indonesian people for Australia's generosity.

"This is an historic moment and a chance for us build better
relations with Australia and forget the past. Let us start with a
new intimacy," Alwi said.

A smiling Howard greeted Australian medical personnel working
at the sprawling hospital, where tiled hallways were still
smeared with dirt and workers loaded wheelbarrows with brick-like
chunks of mud from the courtyard.

"I am very proud of what my fellow Australians have done," he
said.

Howard said the tsunami had led Australia to commit its
largest amount yet of foreign aid. Hundreds of Australian troops
are now based in Aceh, delivering aid by air, distilling drinking
water, and helping in cleanup efforts.

"My first impressions are that nothing I have seen on
television captured the extent of the devastation," he said.

"The whole response to the tsunami has been a reminder of the
common humanity that we all share and that when you have tragedy
you forget differences. You forget differences of race, religion,
of ethnicity, of nationality."

Alwi said Australia would gradually replace its military
contingent with civilian aid workers -- in line with other
foreign military missions.

Howard said that during his visit he had not discussed recent
peace talks in Finland between Indonesia and the separatist Free
Aceh Movement rebels.

Also on Wednesday, Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir
Mohamad arrived in Aceh and met senior government officials,
Antara said.

Mahathir also held private meetings with Indonesian Minister
of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Alwi Shihab.

Later Mahathir, accompanied by his wife, daughter and son-in-
law, visited several sites damaged by the tsunami in and around
the main city of Banda Aceh.