Remarks by

H.E. Mr S. Wiryono
Indonesian Ambassador to Australia

At the IKA Forum Independence Dinner
Canberra, 17 August 1996

IKA Forum Chairperson, Diana Widyastuti

Committee and Forum Members

Friends

Let me first of all thank you for inviting me to join you on this very happy occasion, the IKA Forum Independence Dinner, a Forum consisting of eight Australia-Indonesia friendship organisations that as individual organisations, and under the umbrella of the IKA Forum. have been active in contributing in many significant ways to the better mutual understanding between our two countries.

I am particularly happy to be here and it is indeed heartening that our Australian friends have joined with us in commemorating the 17th August, our National Day. Such coming-together reflects the friendly relations that have been continuously growing over the years at the grass-roots people-to-people level.

As it is still the actual day of our celebration, it is appropriate to recall that Australia's support of Indonesia's independence dates back to the very beginning of Indonesia's struggle to defend its proclamation on 17 August 1945. Following the proclamation, the returning Dutch colonial power tried to recapture its colony but was instead resisted by the newly proclaimed Republic of Indonesia and inevitably skirmishes and fighting broke out in many parts of Indonesia. A conflict situation emerged and generated widespread international concern. But it was Australia who submitted the conflict to the Security Council of the UN as a case of decolonisation. and this crucial initiative and support for a complicated and delicate diplomatic process by Australia, was certainly not only motivated by sympathy for a neighbour's plight in fighting for its nationhood. but also by human sentiment and solidarity. As a result, a Three-Power UN Goodwill Commission was established and Australia. chosen by Indonesia. agreed to represent Indonesia and serve on the Commission. For this, Australia will always have a place in the heart of every patriotic Indonesian.

So from the early beginnings of Indonesia's nationhood, a special trust between the two countries was already taking shape and over the years, the relations continued to broaden and deepen. Now 51 years later, the relations between the countries are basically healthy, but naturally not without problems due to differences in their political, social and cultural backgrounds.

However,' it is indeed because of these occasional problems that there -Is the need for an Australia-Indonesia forum, such as the IKA Forum, to help reduce misunderstanding. The initiatives and activities of IKA in promoting better relations between the two countries have now enjoyed the support of many different segments in society. Different people from different backgrounds and activities are represented in the Forum and include lecturers and researchers, businesspeople, families. teachers as well as students and interested citizens. This broad-based Forum is. and will continue to play, an important role in promoting closer relations between the two countries, and I am therefore grateful to all of you. as clearly your activities greatly facilitate my own mission here in Australia.

The interaction between the two countries now covers many broad areas of cooperation. Economically, the two countries are linked bilaterally as well as regionally. Trade has been growing phenomenally, whist in education more and more Indonesians are coming to Australia to study and Australian interest in Indonesia continues to grow. In a few days. there will be a PPI organised seminar,, "Indonesia-Australia Relationships: Towards Greater Understanding and Cooperation" and the ANU will hold its annual Indonesia Update conference. All of these activities show that there is considerable commitment and interest in promoting relations and in realistically managing these growing relationships. Geography has inexorably made our two countries neighbours, and it is only natural that we intReligious, cultural and
eract in a way that only next-door neighbours can with a measure of familiarity and easy affection.

I will conclude my remarks this evening by wishing you the best of luck with your endeavours and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Diana Widyastuti and the Committee she chairs for organising this year's Independence Dinner. I am sure the Committee has prepared an interesting program and I wish you all a pleasant evening.

Thank you.