PM Insists Indonesia Ttrade Deal ‘On Track’ Despite Jerusalem Embassy Tensions
Canberra, MINA — Indonesia has warned Australia that moving its embassy in Israel would undermine the peace process, raising questions about a pending trade deal.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has seized on public comments from Indonesia’s trade minister, insisting the pending free-trade agreement is still “on track”.
Indonesia is the world’s largest Islamic democracy, and is both a strong supporter of Palestine achieving statehood and a key regional partner for Australia.
Mr Morrison’s announcement on Tuesday that he would consider moving Australia’s diplomatic outpost in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem triggered a warning from Indonesia, and sparked rumours the trade deal was at risk.
Speaking with reporters at a smokehouse outside Canberra on Wednesday morning, Mr Morrison said he had been in “direct communication” with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
He said the Indonesian leadership was still keen to proceed with the deal.
“The Indonesian trade minister has made it clear on the public record,” Mr Morrison said.
Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the agreement was “on track for finalisation this year”.
Indonesia’s Trade Minister, Enggartiasto Lukita, told Reuters in a text message the agreement would still be signed this year.
When asked about the rumours the deal was at risk, he said there was “no such thing”.
But earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi conveyed her country’s opposition to a potential embassy move in Israel.
“Indonesia encourages Australia and other nations to continue to support the peace process and not conduct any action that could undermine the peace process and global security,” she said after talks with visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.
The potential fallout
The new doubts over the Indonesian deal come after the Palestinian Authority’s delegation in Canberra warned Mr Morrison’s proposal would be a “detriment” to Australia’s relationships with “Arab and Muslim-majority countries”.
Mr Morrison Floated the Idea of Moving the embassy Just Days Out from a By-Election in One of Australia’s Most Jewish Electorates.
Mr Morrison faced a fiery question time, as Labor questioned the potential fallout if Australia followed the lead of US president Donald Trump and moved the embassy to Jerusalem.
“Is the prime minister aware of the reports that Indonesia is reconsidering its trade deal with Australia as a result of the prime minister’s rushed announcement today? How many jobs could be at risk as a result of the day’s foreign policy on the run announcement about moving the embassy?” Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asked.
During Question Time, the prime minister said he’d already spoken with the leader of the world’s largest Muslim nation.
“I have been in direct contact with President (Joko) Widodo over the course of last night,” he told Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
Indonesia is Australia’s eighth biggest trading partner, with investment valued at nearly 12 billion dollars last year, according to Department of Foreign Affairs.
The free trade deal with Indonesia is set to unlock education opportunities in the Asian country, which has a workforce of more than 130 million people but half of them only have a primary school education. (T/RS5/RS1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
