Yudhoyono Orders Review Of Bilateral Relations With Australia

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stated that Indonesia will review several cooperation agreements with Australia following the latest revelations of phone tapping targeted at the country`s head of state, the first lady and several other top officials. "We will also review a number of bilateral cooperation agreements as a consequence of this hurtful action by Australia," Yudhoyono said on his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono on Tuesday. Yudhoyono tweeted that Indonesia wanted an official response from Australia "that can be understood by the public." "The actions by the United States and Australia are very much damaging to the strategic partnership with Indonesia, which is a fellow democratic nation," the head of state noted. On Monday, President Yudhoyono had instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa to recall Indonesia`s ambassador to Australia. This is a very stern diplomatic measure," he said. He further said that the government has registered a strong protest since the disclosure of spying activities indulged in by the United States and Australia in Indonesia and other countries. "I also regret the statement made by Australia's Prime Minister who underestimated the wiretapping of officials in Indonesia without a sense of guilt," the President said. Indonesia had announced on Monday that it has recalled its ambassador from Australia following reports that Australian spies had attempted to listen to the President`s cell phone conversations in 2009. "We have recalled the ambassador to Australia in Canberra for consultation and to receive information on what is happening in Australia," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa stated during a press conference on Monday. The minister added that Indonesia had decided to recall its ambassador as he would be unable to perform his tasks properly amidst the ongoing spying issues. The Australian Broadcasting Corp. and The Guardian newspaper had published documents from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden showing that the top-secret Australian Signals Directorate had also targeted the phones of Indonesian first lady Kristiani Herawati and eight other government ministers and officials.