RI-Australia ties stronger than ever
RI-Australia ties stronger than ever
JAKARTA (JP): The rapport between President Soeharto and Prime Minister Paul Keating may be the main force behind the strong relations between the two countries, but Australian Ambassador Allan Taylor insists that ties have actually moved beyond the upper crust of government officials.
Speaking at a discussion at The Jakarta Post, the Australian ambassador recounted the strengthening ties between Jakarta and Canberra and how they have helped overcome the political storms that occasionally crop up.
"The structures that have been set in place go beyond the people who set the structure in place," he replied when asked whether he believed the seemingly close ties would persist.
Relations between Indonesia and Australia have been precarious for several years.
From once being perceived as a security threat, Indonesia has often been the target of Australian criticisms which at times put the improving relationship in jeopardy.
The latest incident was last year when Indonesia withdrew the nomination of Lt. Gen. (ret.) H.B.L. Mantiri as ambassador to Canberra after public demands in Australia that he apologize for a past remark he made about East Timor. At the time, the withdrawal threatened to put the relationship in peril as Jakarta announced it would leave the post vacant indefinitely.
Many have pointed out that each time contentious circumstances arise, the overall relationship has remained secure due to the understanding and friendship established between Indonesia's President Soeharto and Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating.
The attention given Indonesia is evident in Keating's six visits here in four years.
This personal approach was enhanced further by the synergy between the two countries' foreign ministers, Indonesia's Ali Alatas and Australia's Gareth Evans, to build a relationship which would not be swayed by individual or minor squabbles.
As Taylor himself described, the strength and wealth of the relationship "goes beyond individual governments".
He explained that the strengthening in relations really began to blossom in the late 1980s. From that point on, there has not only been stronger ties but also a broadening of the relationship which involves more "people-to-people contact".
Taylor pointed out how the number of Indonesians studying at Australian universities has grown each year. In 1995 some 6,000 student visas were given out by the Australian Embassy here, while the previous year it was 5,000.
In the Australian school curriculum Bahasa Indonesia is included as one of the optional foreign languages, along with Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
Commercial ties are also booming with about 300 Australian companies doing business and investing here.
Taylor said that much of Indonesia's attractiveness for Australian companies is due to the stability provided by the New Order government.
"That has been recognized by Australia," said the ambassador, who has held the post here since April 1993.
He added that while trade has shown a healthy growth, Australian investments here have been less robust.
Australia is Indonesia's ninth largest investor with total approved investment plans of about US$5.9 billion at the end of last year.
Speaking of the mutual security agreement signed in December, Taylor said it is "not threat-based" and not directed against any country.
He maintained that it encapsulates the strong cooperation that has been going on so far and actually adds to the regional security structure.
The agreement signed in Jakarta by Alatas and Evans fosters cooperation and dialog between the countries, along with the possibility of more joint exercises by the two countries' armed forces.
Taylor anticipates that with the mutual cooperation and contacts established in all fields, future differences that might arise can be handled much better. (mds)