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RI, Oz agree to resolve problems: SBY
Finding bilateral solutions: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, second from left, talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during their meeting in Batam, Indonesia, on Wednesday
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Finding bilateral solutions: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, second from left, talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during their meeting in Batam, Indonesia, on Wednesday. The leaders of Indonesia and Australia met Wednesday for the first time since relations between the countries were damaged over spying allegations. (AP/Tundra Laksamana) (AP/Tundra Laksamana)
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span class="caption">Finding bilateral solutions: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, second from left, talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during their meeting in Batam, Indonesia, on Wednesday. The leaders of Indonesia and Australia met Wednesday for the first time since relations between the countries were damaged over spying allegations. (AP/Tundra Laksamana)
Jakarta and Canberra have agreed to resolve their strained bilateral relations and to seek new cooperation opportunities in the future.
'We have agreed to resolve the problems that once disrupted our relations and to find new partnership opportunities,' said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a press conference following his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday.
Yudhoyono said the importance of a partnership based on mutual benefit and respect, especially as Indonesia-Australia relations continued to develop, was highlighted.
'Bilateral issues have sometimes appeared and it's normal. Our spirit is to find the best solution,' he said.
The President said among the crucial points both countries needed to resolve was the alleged wiretapping by Australia on a number of high-ranking Indonesian officials in 2013. Indonesia requested the drafting of a Code of Conduct (CoC) that would regulate relations of the two countries in the future.
Meanwhile, Abbott said he was sure all of the issues could get satisfying solutions.
'The intelligence [wiretapping] issues will be resolved through an ongoing process between Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop,' he said.
Abbott stressed that both countries were partners that trusted each other and their level of trust continued to grow.
He added that intelligence and security partnerships were crucial to maintain peace and in this regard, Australia expressed its total support of Indonesia's territorial integrity. (nfo/ebf)
