Jakarta, June 2, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Nadjib
Riphat Kesoema has "quietly" returned to Canberra after he was recalled
by the Indonesian government in November 2013, indicating that the
bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries have
normalized.
Ambassador Kesoema and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop
spoke over the phone upon his arrival, and they went a step further
when they met in person at the parliament house in Canberra on May 28,
2014, according to Australian media.
Australian news agency AAP reported that the Indonesian ambassador met
Bishop for the first time since he was recalled. The talks were
reportedly constructive and considered as a significant step towards
strengthening relations between the two countries.
In November 2013, the Indonesian government decided to recall its
ambassador to Australia as a strong protest over the illegal wiretapping
conducted by Australian surveillance agencies that had targeted
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the First Lady, and his inner
circle.
Documents released by whistleblower Edward Snowden reveal that in 2009,
Australia's Defence Signals Directorate wiretapped the personal mobile
numbers of both Yudhoyono and his wife, Kristiani Herawati, as well as
eight others in the President's inner circle, including Vice President
Boediono.
Following reports that Australia's Jakarta embassy
was used as part of a US-led spying network in Asia, Indonesia's Foreign
Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa stated that if such facilities
existed, they not only seriously violated the nation's security but also
the diplomatic norms and ethics.
The Foreign Ministry had summoned Australia's ambassador to Indonesia
for clarification about the issue related to November 1.
The incident also led Indonesia to suspend normal cooperation with
Australia following the latter's asylum boat policy. The Indonesian
government also demanded an apology and sought the signing of a code of
conduct (COC) before they resumed joint efforts on common issues, such
as people smuggling, defense, and intelligence sharing.
Yudhoyono hoped that the agreement will be inked by August, which will
be the final confirmation of resumption of normal diplomatic ties
between the two neighbors.
Bishop had already sent the draft of the COC, which she described as a
"joint understanding", to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa
in December 2013, but it has not yet been signed.
The ambassador's return is expected to help galvanize talks on the
proposed COC being negotiated by Australia and Indonesia and heal the
diplomatic rift caused by the spying revelations, AAP noted.
Indonesia has demanded that Australia sign a COC.
Bishop has met her counterpart, Marty Natalegawa on nine occasions
since the crisis began to try to broker an agreement, most recently in
Mexico, in April. The two ministers are scheduled to meet again in a 2+2
dialog between Australia and Indonesia's foreign and defense ministers.
Minister Bishop was quoted as saying by the Australian media that the
new COC being negotiated between Australia and Indonesia will include a
clause dealing with future spying activities.
"I made it quite clear that Australia will not use its resources, our
intelligence resources, to the detriment of our friends and neighbors
and that includes Indonesia," she emphasized.
The Australian minister also remarked that although the relationship
has stalled in some areas, it remains healthy in others.
"Yes, there has been a suspension of cooperation, particularly in
relation to people smuggling ... [and] defense. But, otherwise, there
are about 60 areas of cooperation between Australia and Indonesia,
covering about 22 Australian Government departments and agencies and
authorities and that is continuing," the minister added as reported by
the Australian media.
With regard to Indonesia, Minister Natalegawa recently stated that the
relationship between Indonesia and Australia was currently in the stage
of exchanging the COC drafts, which will be used to govern the
diplomatic relations between the two countries in the future.
"I keep in touch with the State Secretary Bishop to ensure that
progress is being made, and we are in the stage of exchanging the COC,"
he added.
Natalegawa added that it is important for the officials of Indonesia
and Australia to stay in touch and establish communication, even more so
during such difficult times in their diplomatic relationship.
"We (Indonesia) want to make sure that there is no miscommunication and
misunderstanding, and that the issue does not escalate, and during this
difficult situation, it is even more important to communicate and
establish the hot lines of communication," Natalegawa stressed.
Last month, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott telephoned the
Indonesian president to express his regret for being unable to fulfill
Yudhoyono's invitation to attend the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on
Open Government Partnership in Bali.
"President Yudhoyono said he understood the reason for Prime Minister
Abbott's absence in the Bali meeting due to budget deliberation in
parliament," reported Yudhoyono's spokesman Faizasyah.
Faizasyah said that during the conversation, the two leaders also
warmly welcomed the progress achieved by the two countries' foreign
ministers with regard to discussions on the COC.
The two leaders expressed hope that the COC can be inked soon, so that
the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries will
recover and enter a new phase, he emphasized.
"President Yudhoyono expressed hope that the COC will be signed in August 2014 at the latest," Faizasyah said.
Prime Minister Abbott is expected to visit Indonesia and meet President Yudhoyono in June, this year. ***1***
(f001/INE/B003)
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