A'LIA SUPPORTS INDONESIA'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER PAPUA

Brisbane, Jan 16 (ANTARA) - The Australian government reiterated its support to Indonesia's territorial integrity and sovereignty over Papua and West Papua provinces here on Friday which it considered was the best way to respond to Papuan issues.
Australia considered the wider autonomy the Indonesian government had given to the two provinces as already correct and it would continue supporting it.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith conveyed the reaffirmation of the Australian government's political stance on Papua in response to local media's questions about Papuan issues at a press conference here on Friday.
Questions on Papuan issues have been raised twice this week by local media to the minister.
On January 13, Minister Smith also recieved a question on whether he had received a letter from the West Papua Organization regarding the arrest of 11 West Papuans in connection with the raising of Morning Star flag during a rally.
Minister Smith said the best way to respond to Papuan issues was "by respecting Indonesia's territorial integrity and moving towards conditions like an autonomy while continuing to respect human rights and individual, civilian and political freedom."
"We believe steps towards autonomy in the two regions is real. We also believe the progress that has been made by the Indonesian government in this respect has been correct and we will continue to support it," he said.
Minister Smith said he and his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirajuda, still often touched on Papuan issues during personal meetings or at a press conference in Jakarta last year.
The Australian government considered conditions in the two provinces important and "we believe in the Indonesian government with regard to its view that wider autonomy for the two provinces is correct and right," he said.
The Papua issue is one of the most sensitive issues in the bilateral relations between the two countries. After being disrupted by the East Timor problem in 1999, the two countries' relations again became tense in 2006 after Canberra awarded a visa to 43 asylum seekers from Papua.
Jakarta had even withdrawn its ambassador to Australia and Vanuatu, TM Hamzah Thayeb, following the problem.
However, it was the problem that had caused a serious diplomatic incident and deepened the sense of distrust of Indonesian public on Australia that had encouraged the two countries to sit to formulate a security deal later known as Lombok Agreement in 2006.
The agreement was signed by the two countries' foreign ministers on November 13, 2007 and was officially effective as of February 7, 2008.
It confirmed the committment of Indonesia and Australia to mutually respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Consistent with their respective national and international obligations the two countries agreed not to support anything or participate in individual or entity activities believed to threaten stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity of other parties including those seeking to use the region in one of the countries to encourage or carry out separatist activities.
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