Edited Transcript

Press Conference
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia
HE Mr S. Wiryono
Darwin, 3rd of July 1996

Question:

I understand the Australian Foreign Minister Downer has had discussions with Mr Alatas your Foreign Minister on the subject of the report of the death of the six Australian journalists in East Timor. I wonder whether Indonesia has had the chance to digest that report whether or not there will be or, there was likely to be a follow up action on that.

Ambassador:

I have the official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also a news item on an interview with Mr Alatas and all I can do is to translate what he said. He said that indeed the report has been received by the Government and is being studied. It was agreed that Minister Downer had a telephone conversation with his counterpart Mr Alatas and this was what Mr Alatas said that there was no request but it is also possible that Indonesia will issue a statement later. He understands that the Australian side has submitted the report and if the Indonesian side has any further information Australia would be happy to receive. Well that is the press release from the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta. It says that, Indonesia has not had an opportunity to review this report and can not at this time comment on its finding until the full report has been studied.

Question:

How do you see the future of Indonesia-Australia relations over the next decade?

Ambassador:

I am very optimistic. Your country is a developed and industrialised country with a small population. To the north of your country you have the countries of which were, a few years ago during the cold war, called simply as dominoes but now they are the dynamos. So I think now we are becoming more and more able to interact with you in the field of investment, trade, human resources development, technology and also in the political and security dialogue. We are the closest neighbours of Australia. We have common interest economically, politically and also security. Geography has made us neighbours, economic and political security interest have made us partner and I think it is our duty to nurture carefully these relations. I also point out that early history has made us very friendly because it was Australia that brought the Indonesian case to the Security Council way back in 1947 when we were struggling for our independence.
We selected Australia as a member of a UN commission. As you know the Netherlands had chosen Belgium and we have chosen Australia. We could have chosen India or the Philippines, but no we didn't

Question:

The relationship is obviously still delicate as seen by the sensitivity of the recent appointment of the Australian Ambassador. Do you see that delicacy or sensitivity decreasing?

Ambassador:

Not at all. I think there are enough people in the Government, business, private sector, university and everywhere who have concern about cultivating, strengthening, broadening and deepening the relationship. And I think, now we have the -ballast of the relationship very much strengthened. Look at the trade figures. Its over $ 3 billion. Of course we are running a deficit of about $ 1 billion. That shows also the strength of Indonesia. We are becoming very important and I must also say that at the time of the controversy on the plan of the Chairman of the Indonesian Importers Association to ban import from Australia, there were also statement contradicting the usefulness of such a plan. There are enough people who are concerned about the relationship.

Question:

How about change of government policy in the economic relationship between Indonesia with the axing of the DIFF.

Ambassador:

The DIFF is of course very important. We know that the Australian Government and Australia in general is trying to reinvigorate your economy and you need to reduce the deficit and so on. But I think it should not reduce the interest in foreign relations and foreign cooperation with the neighbours. It is of course your sovereign right to abolish it, but the DIFF has been a useful scheme, not only to Indonesia but also to Australia. So we only hope that in particular with regard to the projects in the pipeline or already started but not yet completed, it would be wise to use some method to continue the cooperation.

Question:

Is there a perception within Indonesia that the position of Foreign Minister Downer has been weakened because of the DIFF scandal?

Ambassador:

We admire and respect the Australian democracy. You have your system and it is your problem. But wear e happy with Mr. Downer. He visited Indonesia and we had a good discussion and the Deputy PM Mr Fischer was also in Indonesia and we are looking forward to the visit of the Prime Minister.

Question:

On his return from the U.S. Mr McLachlan said that Australia was standing on the threshold of a new defence relationship with Indonesia and the US. Would you like to make some comments on that?

Ambassador:

I had some news yesterday that some kind of document an MOU or producing some airplane parts I believe, was signed by the Australians and Indonesians. With regard to the Agreement on Maintaining Security, the agreement was signed last year by the previous government and it is fully supported and continued by the present government. I think it is progressing nicely.

Question:

Has Indonesia actually ratified that agreement?

Ambassador:

I think it is in the process. We are not as fast as the Australians. But as confirmed by Foreign Minister Alatas to Mt Downer when Mr Downer was in Jakarta, we will ratify the agreement. It is just that the process is a bit slow.

Question:

Any idea how long it will take?

Ambassador:

I think it will be pretty soon. I just don't have the correct information as to when but it is going to be soon.

Question:

I understand that the Australians are talking about having further exercises with U.S. troops in the NT over the coming month. Is that something that may become a bit of a problem for Indonesia if there is an increase of U.S presence in the NT?

Ambassador:

We know that Australia has defence arrangement with the US and also with some other countries.

Question:

The increase of U.S military presence would not be a problem?

Ambassador:

That of course will have to be seen. I don't know whether that will actually happen.

Question: (Inaudible) on DIFF

Ambassador:

We have also reached a certain degree of development now and we have other resources. Of course we would be happier if you could continue, but if because of your domestic situation you have to reduce, it is within your sovereign right. All we want is that the projects in the pipeline not to be abandoned.
The projects that are being done in Indonesia, such as solar electricity, is very important and that is consistent with your own policy, that is assisting the poor.

Question:

Do you have any lingering suspicions about the Howard's Goverrnnent commitment to Asia?

Ambassador:

Not at all. Of course we read the campaign statements but what we read better is the policy statements. Foreign Minister Downer has visited Indonesia, Tirn Fischer, defence Minister and the Prime Minister have and will visit Indonesia, so we are quite happy.

Question:

Pro democracy has been demonstrating in Jakarta. Can you tell us what is happening there now?

Ambassador:

Well, as you know prior to any elections you sometimes have a rather heated political situation. But it is still under control.

Question:

How is the NT doing In Indonesia with regard to its push to SE Asia with business in Indonesia?

Ambassador

We are very pleased with it. We know we are running a deficit but its all right. Right now there are 25 million people who are earning $ 75000 a year. Their pattern of consumption is changing. A lot more of Australian beef and they like to send their children to Australia. You see a lot of hotels these days in Surabaya and other big cities are being used by Australian universities to invite Indonesian students to come to Australia- There are now 15.000 Indonesian students studying in Australia at any one time.

Question:

One of the issues that came up recently was that perhaps there was too much business being done for Australia through the MOU and not enough business for Indonesian businessmen.

Ambassador:

Well, of course it is up to the Indonesian businessmen to bring the right stuff here. Yesterday I had discussions with NT officials and I was trying to seek their help. For example, to the numerous participants from Indonesia to the NT Expo, if they can be given some guidance with regard to what products to bring here. Because some of them are just bringing anything they have. And it doesn't sell, it is rather unfortunate. They still need some information about how to participate better. And I have asked the Australian side to help if we can have, in-between the expos, during, the interregnum, an Indonesian corner in some exhibition set up here in the NT. So that people can continue to have opportunities to look at what is possible to import from Indonesia. Maybe, the Indonesian participants can also appoint an agent or if not the Consulate could act as a temporary agent.
So, these are the things that I proposed and I think I had positive responses and we hope that the intensification of relations will also continue to bring more Indonesians to the expo.

Question:

How important is Darwin to Indonesia in getting Indonesian goods distributed through the country.

Ambassador:

Well, I think there is one Indonesian company, "Ozindo Express" which will start a shipping connection between Surabaya and Darwin with stops in Bali and Kupang. That is going to be very helpful. There are already many airlinks, Kupang to Bali, Ambon, but now there is this Indonesian shipping company, because they see the potential in it. So Darwin is of course very important and it will become even more important once you have the transport link because then goods could be shipped immediately to South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and so on.

Question:

What sort of catalyst do you think railway could be to increasing business?

Ambassador:

Of course the big item now is cattle because we are buying 1 50 thousands or even more, a year and it is increasing. But our trade is primarily textile, wood product and also the usual things like coffee and tea- So if more Australian would drink Indonesian coffee or tea or other products, that would be easier to ship them first to Darwin and then from Darwin to the rest of Australia.

Question:

Do you have any indications of any........... (inaudible) (on solar electricity)

Ambassador:

Basically two Ministers. Our Minister for Research and Technology because he is very concern about the electricity projects and also the Planning Agency Minister. I think it is only natural. When you have a good program stopped, you will ask, why? There is nothing mysterious about that. It is as simple as that. We know we have been benefiting from that so we thought it was a good cooperation.

Question:

How did Mr Howard respond to that?

Ambassador:

Well, I didn't go to Mr Howard but of course I went to the DFAT. Well, it was a political decision and we officials, can only convey what our political bosses instructed us.

Question: (inaudible) on students

Ambassador:

They were very interested in knowing how to get more Indonesian students here. I told them that Indonesians are switching, in sending students, from the U.S to Australia. Because Australia is much closer, climatewise is more agreeable. Also the parents, they like to check on their children and coming here ' easier because its closer. And that would also boost the tourism. I think the University is very keen on trying to attract more students to come here.

Question:

What do those Indonesian parents, who have already sent their children, think of the NT institutions?

Ambassador:

I think most of them are quite happy, the environment, the life style and the friendliness of the people and so on. We send our children to places where there are not to many discos, because we would like them to study, to go home and then to get a job and so on.

Question:

I understand a number of Indonesian tennis players are playing in a tournament in Darwin near the casino. Are you going to have the opportunity to go there.

Ambassador:

Unfortunately I am leaving after this press conference but I do think that this is a field where Australia can be helpfull. We would also like to train our tennis players. You have a lot of experts and coaches. Maybe that is a field where Australia may be offering their assistance. And maybe we could send our badminton coach to Australia.

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