The Australian government will send a senior diplomat to explain the country's refugee policy in an effort to ease a row over protection visas given to 42 asylum seekers from Papua, an Indonesian official said Monday.

Michael L'Estrange, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a former high commissioner to London, will meet with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda to discuss the matter, said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya.

The diplomat is due to arrive here Friday for a one-day trip, he added.

Australia's visa decision has sparked anger from the Indonesian government, which then recalled its ambassador in Canberra.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said earlier in the day that he praised the Australian government's stance to support territorial integrity of Indonesia, but he urged Canberra to "get firmer in implementing the stance".

Source: Xinhua