Indonesia not to break off ties with Australia: Spokesman

The Indonesian government said Monday bilateral relations with Australia are on the test but breaking off ties is neither realistic nor an option.

"This (breaking off ties) is not realistic and certainly not our option," said Dino Patti Djalal, spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He commented on the diplomatic spat between the two countries erupting after Australia last week granted temporary protection visas for 42 out of 43 asylum seekers from Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua.

"If we break off diplomatic ties, a great cheer will go up from the separatist group," he said without elaborating.

"This important relationship is now dealing with a test of how to handle a sensitive issue so that we can understand each other when facing such an issue in the future," he said in a news conference here.

Source: Xinhua