Australia Will Seriously Try To Resolve Espionage

AUSTRALIA WILL SERIOUSLY TRY TO RESOLVE ESPIONAGE ISSUE: FM JULIE Kategori: National News (NAT) 16:49 Jumat, 08 November 2013 Nusa Dua, Bali, Nov 8 (Antara) - Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Friday her country will make a serious effort to resolve the espionage issue with Indonesia. "I assured Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa that the Australian government will not do anything to harm our strong and vibrant relationship," she said on the sidelines of the two-day Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) VI that started here on Thursday. Julie, who was appointed Foreign Minister in September 2013, said she and Marty had a brief discussion on the espionage activity. Earlier, Marty had said Indonesia will review the information exchange agreement following the leak by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden that revealed the United States and Australia were spying on Indonesia. There are at least 90 countries that are dealing with problems related to espionage suspected to have been conducted by the United States and Australia. "The BDF is a forum for democracy. I am not going into detail about the espionage. But we are discussing the issue at the moment," Julie stated. She noted that the bilateral meeting with Marty had focused on trade, investment, business, science, education, environment and other sectors. Three heads of state inaugurated the BDF VI: RI President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah and Timor Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.