SA: Indonesia, Australia and East Timor in anti-terrorism talks
ADELAIDE, Aug 25 AAP - Indonesia was keen to strengthen existing co-operation withAustralia on anti-terrorism measures, Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said today.
Following a second round of tri-lateral talks in Adelaide with Australian Foreign MinisterAlexander Downer and East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, Mr Wirajuda saidsecurity was an important issue for the three countries.
"We discussed quite widely, issues of common concern to Australia and Indonesia, includingsecurity both in South-East Asia and the Pacific region," he said.
Mr Wirajuda said Indonesia wanted to strengthen the existing mechanisms set out ina memorandum of understanding on counter terrorism that it signed with Australia lastyear.
He also congratulated Australia and East Timor for signing a similar agreement today.
Mr Downer said it was very valuable for the three countries to get together to discussa whole raft of issues of mutual interest.
"I won't go through everything we've discussed except to say we've had a long discussionabout counter terrorism," he said.
"As you know Australia and Indonesia have a memorandum of understanding and have donean enormous amount of work together on that issue.
"In this part of the world we need to be very cautious and make sure all of our countriesco-operate to the fullest extent possible in the war against terrorism."
Mr Downer said he and Mr Wirajuda would also co-host a meeting of Asia-Pacific ministerson counter terrorism early next year.
He said that would be an important step forward in building regional co-operation.
AAP tjd/drp/jlw
KEYWORD: INDON AUST
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