Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

 Introduction

             Let me start by saying that this is a perfect time to be Indonesia ’s Ambassador to Australia , for currently our relationship could not be better.

             An ambassador’s work is similar to that of a bridge-builder. We are in constant search for new bridges to build. Of course, in my case, the bridges are more metaphorical than real. Nowadays, in particular since the onset of important and historic events during the past year—in Indonesia and in bilateral relations—I have many avenues to build new bridges and strengthen existing ones.

             My job duty made much easier by the visit early last month by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In one part of his welcoming remarks Prime Minister Howard stated: ‘… by reason of destiny and geography, ( Indonesia ) will be forever linked with Australia and the Australian people.’

             Therefore, it was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to speak before you tonight—before this ‘ Indonesia Night’, which is part of ‘ Indonesia Next 2005’. Speaking in this splendid opportunity to share with you—both Australians and Indonesians—my views on Australia-Indonesia relations. And, I promise I will refrain from the usual diplomatic language and jargon, and focus on the fundamental links between the two countries: people-to-people and cultural links. I will also briefly touch on economic, political and strategic links.

             Before proceeding any further, however, I must take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia – Australia (PPIA) for a very well organised and attended event. It was great to listen to the key-note speech by Indonesia ’s Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly this morning.

 
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

 
Historical and Traditional Links

             The history of Indonesian – Australian relations is one characterized by interactions between all elements of our respective societies. Modern history, however, has obscured the interactions of past centuries. Although it is a fact frequently forgotten—I hope not in the halls and classrooms of the ANU—peoples in the Indonesian archipelago and the Australian continent have long interacted intensively.

             Many centuries before the arrival of Captain James Cook on Australia ’s shores, Indonesian sailors from the eastern islands and ports traded with the local Aboriginal people in the north, establishing trade links that can still be traced to this day. Fishermen from Macassar visited and traded with their Aboriginal counterpart. Archaeological objects and artefacts prove that there have been early contacts between the people of northern Australia and eastern Indonesia .

             A common geographical and biological heritage was discovered in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, and this is marked by the Wallace and Weber Lines. They show floral and faunal similarities between arid eastern Indonesia and Australia , and shared species include thorny plants, cockatoos, parrots, lizards and marsupials, which are in contrast to those that live in tropical and humid westward regions.

             Thanks to the work of an Australian scientist, Dr. Jan Lingard, now we know that thirteen of Indonesia ’s Freedom Fighters and their offspring are entombed in Cowra , New South Wales . They were Dutch interns who were mainly brought over to Australia at the early stages of the Second World War in the Pacific and for a period of time served as Prisoners of War (POW). In all, around twelve hundred Indonesians served time in Cowra, more than half of which were Dutch interns. Together with the Australian government, we have properly marked their graves and set up a memorial in their honor. Australia and Australians also had significantly helped Indonesia obtain its independence through the United Nations during our early days. There are probably many more interesting but unpublicised stories of a similar nature waiting to be explored in the future.

 
Distinguished guests, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

 New and Growing Links

             Last year, over three hundred thousand Australians visited Indonesia , with around three-quarters of them going to Bali . The remaining one-quarter, or around eighty-thousand Australians, visited other places in Indonesia , to do business, go on vacation, or visit family members. Currently, around twenty-five thousand Indonesians are attending Australian schools and around fifty thousand Indonesians are living in Australia . Under the new Australia –Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (the AIPRD), Australia will provide 600 new scholarships for Indonesians over five years. A similar offer was made by President Yudhoyono to Prime Minister Howard, namely his offer to provide fifty scholarships for Australians to study in Indonesia .

             Among the most important symbols of our close people-to-people relations were the assistance during the tsunami disaster late last year. I am personally very touched by the genuine generosity and solidarity displayed by Australians. In addition, the death of nine Australian military personnel in Nias early last month served to add a very powerful symbol to the relationship.

             In fact, the historical and cultural bonds between our peoples are so close that it is at times at the cost of Indonesia ’s effective diplomacy. Let me elaborate. In my experience spanning three decades of Indonesia ’s diplomacy, our language—Bahasa Indonesia—has been very effectively used to converse amongst ourselves before making decisions in the middle of negotiations. And many of these negotiations were critical and urgent for Indonesia ’s national interests. But this we could not do in our dealings with our Australian counterparts, because most of them understand Indonesian! Worst still – or should I say better still – many of them speak Indonesian dialects that many of my colleagues or I speak very little of, if at all.

             Another case in point which describes our close people-to-people links is the difficulty in tracking the number of Indonesians in Australia and vice versa. Frequently, the embassy here and consular missions in Sydney , Melbourne , Perth , Darwin , Adelaide and Brisbane become aware of the existence of some Indonesian citizens when they get into trouble. We, of course, try our best to know the whereabouts and wellbeing of all our nationals. Indeed, consular services and the protection of Indonesian citizens and organisations abroad are my Foreign Minister’s top priorities. I would imagine my counterpart in Jakarta , Ambassador David Ritchie, also places the wellbeing of Australians in Indonesia as his top priority, and I know that his consular and immigration sections are much larger than ours.

             We have a similar situation in the field of economic relations. Putting numbers on Indonesian investment in Australia and vice versa has never been an easy task. For example, in Australia ’s estimates last year, investment by Australians in Indonesia over the years ranges between three billion to ten billion Australian Dollars. I have seen cases of Australians selling their house and taking the proceeds to Bali to open up a business—but some of them only appear on the radar screen when they run into problems. This is the cost of success, but it is really for governments to adjust to the new phenomena caused by the people’s rapid movements.

             Bilateral trade stands at slightly over five billion US dollars. The balance is in Indonesia ’s favor at around 273 million US dollars, but when trade in services is taken into account, the balance is more-or-less equal. Currently, Australia is Indonesia ’s eighth largest market and sixth largest source of imports.

             Last month I attended and spoke at the Indonesia – Australia Business Conference, which was held in Bali . This was the best attended business conference for a long time, following the ‘one-on-one’ meeting between President Yudhoyono and Australian CEOs in Sydney on April 5^th. Questions by Australian investors were less concerned with Indonesia ’s political stability than the opportunities that Indonesia could provide. I am optimistic that Australian investors will build on the already existing investment of about four billion dollars. Current investments are concentrated in the resources and energy sectors, but we are looking forward to large investments in the area of mining and distribution, and in other areas, such as agriculture and animal husbandry. This morning I read that a company has decided to take part in the infrastructure projects investing around 1.8 billion in Indonesia ’s toll road.

 
Ladies and gentlemen,

 New Political and Strategic Links

             We cannot underestimate the effect of recent political developments in Indonesia on people-to-people links. The three elections in Indonesia last year and the success of Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in becoming our first directly-elected president has created new optimism and confidence, both in Indonesia and Australia, of Indonesia’s future, a sense also shared by Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly.

             The very warm welcome President Yudhoyono received from the people of Australia last month—including from the people of Canberra and Sydney who had to endure the president’s long motorcade—is testimony to this.

             President Yudhoyono’s visit last month has also strengthened bilateral relations at all levels. Perhaps his visit contributed to a more enduring relationship that was not easily derailed by certain emotional issues, such as the cases of Schapelle Corby and Muhamad Herry, unfortunate and tragic as they were.

             Indonesia is also actively supporting Australia ’s bid to integrate more closely in the region. Indonesia , therefore, supports Australia having a seat at the first summit meeting of East Asia—the ‘East Asia Summit ’ that will be held in Malaysia at the end of this year. We believe that Australia has the will and capacity to contribute to regional stability and prosperity.

             Indeed, I have always argued that there can be no stability and prosperity in the region without strong Australian – Indonesian relations. We have every reason to be optimistic about stronger and peaceful relations, and we support the proposition that democracies do not go to war with other democracies.

             We are also currently working on strengthening cooperation in the field of security. We are working together to fight terrorism, through law enforcement cooperation as well as inter-faith dialogues to empower the moderates. We are also working to combat other forms of transnational crimes. We are building closer military-to-military ties. We see value in concluding a security agreement, which would provide a framework for new directions in our security relationship, and which we will do at a pace comfortable to both sides.

 
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

 Closing

             Later you will watch traditional Indonesian dances while sampling some of Indonesian fine cuisines. I am sure that the experience is not entirely new for most of you, because I am certain you have many links to Indonesia . I invite you to strengthen those links and to build new bridges. I assure you that I will do the same.

             In the meantime, I encourage you to contribute to this is charity dinner for the orphans of Indonesia . I invite you to to contribute generously most generously.

             Have a wonderful evening. Thank you.