By : Agus*)
At the beginning of the year 2015, Indonesia-Australia diplomatic relations had deteriorated because the execution of two death row Bali Nine. An informal meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Australia, Julie Bishop on the sidelines of a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur 6 August must be the first door repair relations between the two countries.
Officials from both countries have exchanged visits, and news of their meetings open to the public display. Justice Minister of Australia, Michael Keenan became the first ministerial-level official to visit Indonesia after Bali Nine executions last April.
Minister Keenan was in Indonesia as an envoy of Prime Minister Tony Abbott to discuss improvement of bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism. Indonesia will participate in an international conference on terrorism held in Australia in November.
Along this, In Australia, the Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Najib Riphat Kesoema in a brief conversation with reporters ABC Australia Plus said relation between both countries “almost normal”. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she fully agreed with Mr Najib, the relationship between the ministers of Australia and Indonesia are closer.
*) The Author is Brunei Contributor
