Indonesia-Australia ties returns to normal: FM

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said on Monday that Indonesia's relations with Australia have returned to normal after they got strained following the granting of temporary visas to 42 asylum seekers from Papua recently.

The relations have returned to normal though the Australian Parliament has not agreed to the Pacific Solution policy concept which would guarantee that no more asylum seekers would be processed in Australia, said the minister.

Wirajuda made the remarks after attending a meeting between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Batam Island, Indonesia, on Monday.

"It's back on track," the Antara news agency quoted the minister as saying.

He said the two leaders have reached good understanding on delicate issues such as the problem of 42 asylum seekers from Papua.

At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Howard, President Yudhoyono said that their meeting proceeded productively and constructively.

The president said the meeting was very unique because it was preceded by intensive correspondence between him and Howard.

Meanwhile, Howard said his meeting with Yudhoyono lasted very friendly which indicated the closeness of the relations between the two countries.

Howard said that his meeting with Yudhoyono touched three main issues, namely Australia's reaffirmation of its recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua, Australia's rejection of being made a base for asylum seekers and assurance that Australia's assistance would not be used to finance separatist activities.

Source: Xinhua