n4292936
04-04-2005, 11:36 PM
Australia, Indonesia sign historic pact
By Patrick Walters
April 05, 2005
From:
http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,432195,00.jpg
New era ... Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister John Howard / John Feder JOHN Howard and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have pledged to open a new era in bilateral relations as the Indonesian President declared his nation was "looking south" for the first time towards a confident, dynamic and multicultural Australia.
The Indonesian leader declared the "landmark" joint partnership between Jakarta and Canberra would not only bring benefits to both nations but could help solve regional and global problems.
"Just imagine the creative energy that can be unleashed by the connection between our two resourceful peoples," an upbeat Dr Yudhoyono told a lunch held in his honour at Parliament House.
"I am convinced we can take this friendship between Indonesia and Australia far. Very far.
"Just imagine the vast area of democratic peace and co-operation that will be created between the largest archipelago on the equator and the great continent down under."
The President underlined his vision with his handwritten message in the Parliament House visitors book yesterday. He wrote: "I do hope that my visit will promote our bilateral friendship and co-operation."
Dr Yudhoyono said Indonesians looking south would now see the richest country in the southern hemisphere, which was a bastion of stability, progress and dynamism.
"Australians looking north would now see that along the equator spans the world's third-largest democracy that is Indonesia - third after India and the US," he said. "It is also a wondrous place where Islam, democracy and modernity thrive together."
The joint declaration will see Jakarta and Canberra negotiate a new security pact in the coming months aimed at cementing co-operation between the defence, police, Customs and intelligence agencies of both countries.
Both governments have pledged to respect each other's territorial integrity, and the joint declaration states specifically that Australia "does not support separatist movements in any part of Indonesia".
The declaration, signed by Mr Howard and Dr Yudhoyono, states that each country's "unity, stability and prosperity" is vital to the other and that a stable, prosperous Indonesia can be a model for successful democratic transition for the world.
The two leaders yesterday outlined a similar shared vision of closer relations, with Dr Yudhoyono promising to try to smooth the political highs and lows that have traditionally affected Canberra-Jakarta relations.
He said the comprehensive partnership declaration marked a significant landmark in bilateral relations and "captures how far our relations have evolved".
"You will all notice that recently we have begun to relate to each other differently," he said, referring to the close co-operation developed since the 2002 Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami.
"Our tsunami experience unveils one important point: that the relations between Indonesia and Australia are getting stronger, closer, better."
Mr Howard said he had developed an "immense personal regard" for Dr Yudhoyono and emphasised their mutual commitment to improving relations.
"We openly acknowledge that our cultures and our structures are different; that we will, from time to time, have differences.
"But we are forever together in this part of the world and we are therefore committed to ensuring that this relationship goes from strength to strength." Mr Howard said Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, had not received enough credit for its recent democratic transformation.
He also urged business leaders at the parliamentary luncheon to invest in Australia's near neighbour.
Mr Howard said the two countries faced no greater challenge than that of defeating terrorism in the region.
"A successful, moderate, Islamic Indonesia, led by a man of compassion and a man of vision such as President Yudhoyono, is about the most powerful weapon that we can have against zealotry and extremism in our part of the world," Mr Howard said.
Dr Yudhoyono today will personally award the nine Australians killed and two injured in Saturday's Sea King crash on Nias an Indonesian medal of honour for their "outstanding service and sacrifice".
"I am utterly devastated by the helicopter crash in Nias which killed nine and injured two of Australia's finest," he said yesterday.
He also thanked Australians for their generosity towards Indonesia in the wake of the tsunamis, which killed 220,000 people in Aceh and North Sumatra.
"Let it be remembered that when we in Indonesia went down and out, and when we needed help most, you came and you stood by us," he said.
Dr Yudhoyono yesterday backed Australia's participation in the East Asia summit to be hosted by Malaysia in December.
"I stressed the importance of Australia's close engagement with the region and I reiterated Indonesia's support for Australia to join the East Asia summit this year," he said.
By Patrick Walters
April 05, 2005
From:
http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,432195,00.jpg
New era ... Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister John Howard / John Feder JOHN Howard and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have pledged to open a new era in bilateral relations as the Indonesian President declared his nation was "looking south" for the first time towards a confident, dynamic and multicultural Australia.
The Indonesian leader declared the "landmark" joint partnership between Jakarta and Canberra would not only bring benefits to both nations but could help solve regional and global problems.
"Just imagine the creative energy that can be unleashed by the connection between our two resourceful peoples," an upbeat Dr Yudhoyono told a lunch held in his honour at Parliament House.
"I am convinced we can take this friendship between Indonesia and Australia far. Very far.
"Just imagine the vast area of democratic peace and co-operation that will be created between the largest archipelago on the equator and the great continent down under."
The President underlined his vision with his handwritten message in the Parliament House visitors book yesterday. He wrote: "I do hope that my visit will promote our bilateral friendship and co-operation."
Dr Yudhoyono said Indonesians looking south would now see the richest country in the southern hemisphere, which was a bastion of stability, progress and dynamism.
"Australians looking north would now see that along the equator spans the world's third-largest democracy that is Indonesia - third after India and the US," he said. "It is also a wondrous place where Islam, democracy and modernity thrive together."
The joint declaration will see Jakarta and Canberra negotiate a new security pact in the coming months aimed at cementing co-operation between the defence, police, Customs and intelligence agencies of both countries.
Both governments have pledged to respect each other's territorial integrity, and the joint declaration states specifically that Australia "does not support separatist movements in any part of Indonesia".
The declaration, signed by Mr Howard and Dr Yudhoyono, states that each country's "unity, stability and prosperity" is vital to the other and that a stable, prosperous Indonesia can be a model for successful democratic transition for the world.
The two leaders yesterday outlined a similar shared vision of closer relations, with Dr Yudhoyono promising to try to smooth the political highs and lows that have traditionally affected Canberra-Jakarta relations.
He said the comprehensive partnership declaration marked a significant landmark in bilateral relations and "captures how far our relations have evolved".
"You will all notice that recently we have begun to relate to each other differently," he said, referring to the close co-operation developed since the 2002 Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami.
"Our tsunami experience unveils one important point: that the relations between Indonesia and Australia are getting stronger, closer, better."
Mr Howard said he had developed an "immense personal regard" for Dr Yudhoyono and emphasised their mutual commitment to improving relations.
"We openly acknowledge that our cultures and our structures are different; that we will, from time to time, have differences.
"But we are forever together in this part of the world and we are therefore committed to ensuring that this relationship goes from strength to strength." Mr Howard said Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, had not received enough credit for its recent democratic transformation.
He also urged business leaders at the parliamentary luncheon to invest in Australia's near neighbour.
Mr Howard said the two countries faced no greater challenge than that of defeating terrorism in the region.
"A successful, moderate, Islamic Indonesia, led by a man of compassion and a man of vision such as President Yudhoyono, is about the most powerful weapon that we can have against zealotry and extremism in our part of the world," Mr Howard said.
Dr Yudhoyono today will personally award the nine Australians killed and two injured in Saturday's Sea King crash on Nias an Indonesian medal of honour for their "outstanding service and sacrifice".
"I am utterly devastated by the helicopter crash in Nias which killed nine and injured two of Australia's finest," he said yesterday.
He also thanked Australians for their generosity towards Indonesia in the wake of the tsunamis, which killed 220,000 people in Aceh and North Sumatra.
"Let it be remembered that when we in Indonesia went down and out, and when we needed help most, you came and you stood by us," he said.
Dr Yudhoyono yesterday backed Australia's participation in the East Asia summit to be hosted by Malaysia in December.
"I stressed the importance of Australia's close engagement with the region and I reiterated Indonesia's support for Australia to join the East Asia summit this year," he said.