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.