The Indonesian Embassy held an informal meeting with the chairman and members of the Sub-Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade of the Parliament of Australia at the Embassy on Monday, 16 September 2002 from 6 to 8 pm. The members of the sub-committee, which is chaired by the Hon. David F Jull, MP, are the Hon. Kim Beazley, MP, the Hon. GJ Edwards, MP, Mr. Peter Lindsay, MP, Senator the Hon. Nick Bolkus, Mr. DPM Hawker, MP, the Hon. Warren E Snowdon, MP, and Mr. Cliff Lawson (Secretary).

The meeting was arranged, at the Embassy's request, with the aim of clarifying for the sub-committee the current issues in Indonesia, as well as providing input as necessary on the various problems faced by the Indonesian Government and of the steps being taken by the government to resolve those problems. The meeting also discussed in broad terms the "position paper" the Committee will require from the Embassy on the important aspects existing in the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia. The paper will be utilized in due course as a reference for the members in formulating their view on the Australia's future relationship with Indonesia.

The members of the Sub-Committee welcomed the meeting, and the opportunity it accorded to exchange views over many varied aspects such as reforms, political, strategic, military, economics, education, social and culture. It was conducted in a very warm and friendly atmosphere.

It is to be hoped that the meeting would help remove any miss-interpretation and misunderstandings on the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia, which was often up and down.

Canberra, 17 September 2002