We are not stagnant, Evans tells RI envoy

We are not stagnant, Evans tells RI envoy

SYDNEY (AFP): Foreign Minister Gareth Evans has rejected criticism by Indonesia's ambassador to Canberra that Australia is in danger of becoming "a stagnant, inward-looking, sulking" country.

The Australian government was stung by Ambassador Sabam Siagian's remarks, which came at a time when ministers from Prime Minister Paul Keating down have been working to expand and develop links with all Asian countries, and particularly Indonesia.

Addressing business representatives in Melbourne on Thursday, Siagian said cooperative ventures between the two countries would help Indonesia become a "modern, outward-looking country", but were also beneficial to Australia.

"At least they are helpful to overcome the tendency to remain an isolated, comfortable island of Western civilization 'Down Under,' thus becoming a stagnant country.

"A stagnant, inward looking, sulking Australia definitely is not in the interests of a dynamically growing Indonesia," he said.

As evidence of how seriously Keating views the bilateral relationship and how warmly he regards Indonesia, he will this month make his third visit to Jakarta in little more than a year and will make his fourth in November.

Keating and seven other ministers are going to Indonesia for a major Australia-Indonesia trade promotion which will be the largest ever staged by Australia overseas.

Siagian is well regarded by Australian officials, one of whom said yesterday that they were somewhat mystified by his remarks because he more than anyone was aware of Canberra's attitudes on Asia and Indonesia.

A spokeswoman for Evans said yesterday that he had made a statement rejecting the criticism on Thursday and would not be adding to it.

In his response, Evans said it looked as though Siagian had got his tenses mixed up because Australia was no longer stagnant and inward looking "and we have never been sulking."

More than 200 Australian firms are to take part in this month's "Expanding Horizons - Australia Indonesia into the 21st Century" trade fair to try to "emphasize the practical aspects of developing joint ventures and managing investments in Indonesia and Australia".