indonesian_open FW: [ozindonculture] Transcript - PM & Yudhoyono Press Conference

[Wittman, Leonie]

-----Original Message-----
From: Beverly.Mercer at dfat.gov.au [mailto:Beverly.Mercer at dfat.gov.au] 
Sent: Monday, 4 April 2005 7:59 PM
Subject: [ozindonculture] Transcript - PM & Yudhoyono Press Conference

For your information below, is the transcript of the press conference
given
by the Australian Prime Minister and the Indonesian President on the
occasion of the latter's visit to Australia today.


Beverly Mercer
Counsellor (Cultural)
Australian Embassy
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. C15-16
Jakarta Selatan 12940

ph: (021) 2550 5260
Fax: (021) 522 7104

************************************************************************
****

04 April 2005

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH HIS EXCELLENCY DR SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO,
PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA,
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA


Subject: bilateral meeting.


E&OE....................................................................
............................

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I would like to welcome to this news
conference His Excellency the President of Indonesia. We have just
completed a bilateral discussion between the President and myself and
then
a broader discussion between the senior Ministers of the Indonesian
Government and the senior Ministers of the Australian Government.

Can I say at the outset that there is a very strong personal commitment
on
behalf of President Yudhoyono and myself to the strengthening of the
bilateral relationship between our two countries. Tragedy has brought
our
two countries together in recent months, but before the terrible tsunami
tragedy overwhelmed the island of the province of Aceh there had already
been many positive developments in the relationship between our two
countries. I want to say at the outset that all Australians admire the
democratic transformation that has occurred within Indonesia over recent
years. I do not believe that Indonesia has received enough credit for
the
remarkable embrace of democracy in recent years. Indonesia is now the
third
largest democracy in the world and as partners in the region we respect
very much the democratisation of Indonesia. We also admire the attempts
that are being made to tackle very challenging economic impediments in
Indonesia; particularly in relation to such things as fuel subsidies.
Both
the President and I agree that the foundation of Indonesia's future
prosperity of course lies in her economic strengthening.

We discussed all of the most important bilateral issues; the emphasis on
fighting terrorism, the effective implementation of the joint commission
on
assistance and reconstruction arising out of the tsunami, the importance
of
cooperating together in the region. We signed a joint declaration which
will provide a framework for our association in the years ahead and we
made
reference of course to the financing of some 600 scholarships that will
increase manifold the support that Australia is providing to Indonesia.

President Yudhoyono comes to this country as the respected leader of the
largest Islamic country in the world and as the President of our nearest
neighbour and also as a person for whom I have developed an immense
personal regard. We are both committed to the strength of the
partnership
and the friendship between our two countries. We openly acknowledge that
our cultures and our structures are different; that we will from time to
time have differences of opinion. But we are forever together in this
part
of the world and we are therefore committed to ensuring that this
relationship goes from strength to strength.

I welcome you Mr President. I do hope that you have an enjoyable time in
our country and that you and your wife will depart with some very happy
memories at the hospitality of the Australian people.

PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO:

Thank you. Mr Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen, members of the
press.
First let me take this opportunity to state on record our people's
condolences and profound sadness for the tragic helicopter crash on the
island of Nias last Saturday which claimed the lives of nine Australians
and miraculously produced two survivors. Our hearts go out to their
families and I want them to know that the people and government of
Indonesia are grateful for their noble contributions in helping those
who
are suffering in Nias. For the ultimate sacrifice my government intends
to
give the 11 Australians medals of honour.

I am pleased to be here in Australia and to meet my good friend Prime
Minister John Howard for whom I have enormous respect and with whom I
enjoy
close relations. I am pleased to be the third Indonesian President to
visit
Australia and I certainly hope to visit Australia again. I look forward
to
many more meetings with Prime Minister Howard in various fora.

I have just concluded a very productive meeting with Prime Minister John
Howard. We discussed a whole range of bilateral issues, as well as
regional
and international issues. We discussed our excellent cooperation in
dealing
with the impact of the tsunami, as well as the prospect for
reconstruction
and rehabilitation of Aceh and north Sumatra. Prime Minister Howard and
I
will closely work together to manage the Australia-Indonesia Partnership
for Reconstruction and Development, which is a bilateral scheme to help
the
reconstruction in Aceh and Sumatra and other areas.

We also discussed the issue of terrorism and how we can strengthen our
cooperation in many areas relating to counter-terrorism. I stressed the
need to address the roots and causes of terrorism. Prime Minister Howard
and I agree that we should continue with our joint initiative to promote
interfaith dialogue.

We also discussed a number of economic issues; particularly trade and
investment. We also discussed a separate subject of mine which is
education, and of course I welcome the education cooperation that has
become an even stronger component of our relations. We also discussed
our
defence relations, where I expressed my enthusiasm at the improved
cooperation between our militaries. We also discussed development around
the region. I stressed the importance of Australia's close engagement
with
the region and I reiterated Indonesia's support for Australia to join
the
East Asia summit this year. I am particularly glad that today Prime
Minister John Howard and I are announcing the comprehensive partnership
between Indonesia and Australia. I think it marks a significant landmark
in
our bilateral relations and captures how far our relations have evolved.
I
also welcome the signing of four important documents of cooperation
between
the two governments in the field of transportation, aviation security,
capacity building, social protections, (inaudible) and technological
development.

Today I will depart for Sydney where I will have more time to get with
Prime Minister Howard and to meet the Australian people. I certainly
hope
that my visit here will affirm the importance of Australia to Indonesia
and
we'll usher in a new era of bilateral relations between Indonesia and
Australia and all the great promise that comes with it.

Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:

We might have a few questions, a couple from each side.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible)

PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO:

Answer in Indonesian.

JOURNALSIT:

Mr Howard to what extent did the two of you discuss (inaudible) what
role
will it play in the agreement of the fact of secession movements in
Indonesia and Australia's attitude towards those secession movements?

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:

I made it very clear to the President that Australia fully respects the
territorial integrity of the Indonesian Republic. That is a given in our
relationship; clearly we wish to see the differences in provinces such
as
Aceh resolved in an amicable fashion and I know that is the desire of
the
President. But it has long been the position of the Australian
Government
that in relation to such issues as the Papua Secession Movement and also
in
Aceh, that we respect Indonesia's integrity and that is something that
is
mentioned in the overarching agreement.

JOURNALIST:

President Yudhoyono I understand the partnership agreement encompasses
security in both the traditional and non-traditional sense. Do you
envisage
it would include a non-aggression pact and agreed by both countries not
to
use force against each other but to resolve disputes by peaceful means?

PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO:

In general we agree to have possible and constructive cooperation in the
fields of defence and security. What we are doing now, cooperation in
combat and terrorism and dealing with trans-national organised crimes
and
the education and training between our two armed forces is one example
and
a model that bi-laterally we could cooperate better. Of course with
great
understanding, of course we have to find a framework to solve the
problem
peacefully. If there is a problem arise before us and I believe very
strongly with (inaudible) with that understanding and commitment we will
be
able to solve any problem faced by both Indonesia and Australia.

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:

An Indonesian....

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible)

PRESIDENT YUDOYONO:

Answer in Indonesian

JOURNALIST:

Prime Minister did you and the President discuss the Maritime boundaries
between the two countries? There were some suggestions last year that
you
might be interested to extend the boundary.

PRIME MINISTER HOWARD:

No. One more question.

Thank you.

[ends]

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