Australian Ambassador Meets Kalla To Discuss Bilateral Relations

Jakarta, July 29 (Antara) -- Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson met Vice President Jusuf Kalla here on Wednesday to discuss ways to improve the bilateral relations between the two countries. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that they had also discussed a plan to open a consulate general in Makassar, South Sulawesi. "We discussed several issues related to future relations between Indonesia and Australia, economic problems, a plan to establish a consulate general in Makassar, and his programs in Indonesia," he revealed at his office. In the past few months, ties between the two countries have been disturbed due several diplomatic issues and, Grigson's presence at the vice president's office was aimed at rebuilding these relations. "Well, in the past six months, our relations have been strained. So we discussed ways to improve them in the second semester," Kalla remarked. Relations between Indonesia and Australia were tense following the execution of Australian drug convicts Andre Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, as well as Australia's act of bribing crew members of a boat carrying asylum seekers to the country. However, Spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry Arrmanatha Nasir had observed earlier that the relations between the governments of the two countries had yet to reach a critical level. The two governments still communicate well, he added. "I did not see clear changes in communication channels because it continues to be carried out at technical, directorial and ministerial levels, as well as at the level of director generals," he affirmed.