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".