Looking south for friendship

Looking south for friendship

Australia has made many overtures to Indonesia over the years
-- indeed, John Howard has made 11 visits there since becoming
Prime Minister in 1996 -- but never have they been so generously
reciprocated. (President Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono symbolically
realigned his country's foreign policy yesterday (Monday) when he
said Indonesia needed to look south, towards us, as well as north
towards its Asian neighbors.

In the words of the joint declaration on economic and security
cooperation signed by Yudhoyono and Howard, the humanitarian work
of Australian Defense Force personnel following the tsunami
marked a "psychological breakthrough" for the two countries.

While Australia has often quite legitimately construed itself
as a potential bridge between Indonesia and the West, Yudhoyono
now sees Indonesia as our bridge to East Asia. This promises
immediate economic advantage if Indonesia can advance our claim
to a seat at the East Asia Summit to be held in Malaysia in
December.

There is often a yawning gap between diplomatic-speak and
reality. But when Yudhoyono hailed a "new era" in Australia-
Indonesia relations, he was talking about a defining relationship
for both countries that has come further in the past three years
than during the previous 30.
-- The Australian, Sydney