PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J KEATING MP
AUSTRALIA-INDONESIA AGREEMENT ON MAINTAINING SECURITY
Cabinet has agreed that Australia and Indonesia will sign on Monday 18
December a security agreement between our two countries.
The Agreement on Maintaining Security commits the two governments to:
consult at Ministerial level on a regular basis about matters affecting
their common security and to develop such cooperation as would
benefit their own security and that of the region;
consult each other in the case of adverse challenges to either party or
to their common security interests and, if appropriate, consider
measures which might be taken by them individually or jointly and in
accordance with the processes of each government; and
promote, in accordance with the policies and priorities of each,
cooperative activities in the security field.
This is a serious and important step for both countries. The agreement is a
significant and natural extension of the cooperation Australia and Indonesia
have built in recent years through mechanisms such as the Australia-
Indonesia Ministerial Forum and our collaboration on APEC. It demonstrates
the confidence each of us has in the intentions of the other. But it goes
beyond that to set out in formal terms for the first time our common interests
in the peace and security of the region around us, and our intention to
cooperate together in support of those interests.
The agreement will reinforce the security of the region as a whole by
demonstrating to our friends and neighbours that Australia and Indonesia will
continue to build a close and cooperative relationship.
It does not affect our existing international commitments. It is premised on
our respect for the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity
of all countries. I 150/ S
Discussions about the agreement have been in progress for eighteen months.
I first discussed the matter with President Soeharto in 1994. I am grateful to
General Peter Gration AC, the former Chief of the Defence Force, who acted
as my personal emissary in discussions with Indonesia on this agreement.
Formal processes need to be completed in Australia, with the submission of
the Agreement to the Executive Council for approval. I expect that to happen
today.
The agreement will be signed by the Foreign Ministers, Senator
Gareth Evans QC and Mr Ali Alatas SH, in the presence of President
Soeharto and myself. The two Defence Ministers, Senator Robert Ray and
Mr Edy Sudradjat, will be present, together with the Chief of the Australian
Defence Force, General John Baker AC, and the Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia, General Feisal Tanjung.
CANBERRA 14 DECEMBER 1995