Tragedy hangs over SBY's Australia trip
Tragedy hangs over SBY's Australia trip
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Darwin
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono began a two-day visit to
Australia on Sunday, expressing sadness over the deaths of nine
Australian military personnel in a helicopter crash during relief
work on earthquake-devastated Nias island.
"I wish to convey my sincerest sympathy and deepest
condolences to the government of Australia, its people and in
particular the bereaved families, in the hope they will be able
to weather this unbearable suffering," Susilo said during a
press conference on Sunday before leaving for Australia.
After spending two days in Australia, Susilo will continue on
to New Zealand and Timor Leste.
The Australian navy helicopter carrying up to 11 people
crashed on Saturday, killing nine and seriously injuring two
others.
Susilo called Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Sunday
morning to express his condolences, as well as to reiterate the
government's promise to do everything to speed up the evacuation
of the injured and the repatriation of the deceased.
This is Susilo's first visit to Australia as President. The
trip was delayed by four days following the devastating 8.7-
magnitude earthquake off Sumatra island's coast last Monday that
killed at least 594 people.
Susilo said the visit was not aimed at initiating a wide-
ranging defense pact, but rather at improving cooperation in
dealing with terrorism and transnational crime, with Susilo and
Howard scheduled to sign an agreement on the matter.
He said this cooperation with Australia should not be
interpreted as an attempt to create a joint defense pact between
the two countries.
"The security and defense pact that is about to be signed will
only cover cooperation in counter-terrorism, transnational crime
and joint military training," Susilo said before flying to
Australia.
"Therefore, the cooperation should not be interpreted in the
sense that we are going to form a defense front. It is more about
improving already existing cooperation."
In the security sector, Indonesia is scheduled to ink a
bilateral agreement with Australia on Monday on a civil aviation
security capacity building project. It is also expected to sign a
memorandum of understanding on cooperation in social protection
policies and programs.
The two countries are also scheduled to sign an agreement on
scientific research and technology development.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie said the
cooperation in the economic sector would cover financial
assistance for reconstructing the tsunami-stricken Aceh and parts
of North Sumatra.