Minister upbeat about visit to Australia

Minister upbeat about visit to Australia

The Jakarta Post, Sydney

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda hopes that
his visit to Australia will help thaw any prevailing rigidity in
ties between the two countries and help solidify ties which in
the past have been tempered by emotional constraints.

Speaking to reporters on his way home at the end of his visit
to Australia and New Zealand, Hassan said Australian officials
welcomed the initiative taken by the Indonesian government to
resolve bilateral and regional concerns, including those relating
to a planned international conference on illegal migrants in
Jakarta in February.

The often thorny ties between Jakarta and Canberra have been
made even more volatile through the recent emergence of the issue
of illegal migrants, who have made Indonesia a transit point to
their final destination of Australia.

Hassan's visit was significant as it was the first in many
years to be made at the initiative of an Indonesian foreign
minister, and was launched at the outset of new administrations
in both countries.

It is the most strategic move taken by Megawati
Soekarnoputri's four-month old government with respect to
Australia, while Prime Minister John Howard was only re-elected
to office three weeks earlier.

Hassan during his visit held bilateral talks with his
counterpart Alexander Downer and met with Howard.

According to Hassan, the Australian prime minister also
expressed his desire to visit Indonesia in the near future.

He added that he had also received very positive signals from
Australian and New Zealand officials for the West Pacific Dialog
Forum.

"Our visit is aimed at securing the position and support of
both Australia and New Zealand for the establishment of the forum
in the future," he said while adding that both countries also
welcomed Indonesia's move to serve as a bridge facilitating their
access to the Southeast Asian region.

Hassan, who was accompanied by the foreign ministry's Director
for Asia Pacific Affairs Yusbar Djamil and Director for
International Organizations Marty Natalegawa, arrived back in
Jakarta on Sunday evening.