Indonesia, Australia Leaders to Meet to Mend Ties

Source: Wall Street Journal

By Andreas Ismar and Joko Hariyanto

JAKARTA, Indonesia-Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott are set to meet Wednesday afternoon, potentially paving the way toward improving ties after spying allegations strained relations.

It will be the first time the leaders have met since Jakarta in November suspended cooperation in military and intelligence sharing with Australia and recalled its ambassador. The steps followed revelations that Australia in 2009 had tried to tap Mr. Yudhoyono's phone, the First Lady's and those of his inner circle. Australia didn't confirm or deny the allegations, citing a long-standing tradition for not disclosing intelligence materials ...

Mr. Yudhoyono has called for the establishment of a code of conduct and protocols in intelligence gathering as prerequisites for normalizing bilateral relations. He has said he wants to wrap up the deal before the end of his second and last term in October.

Indonesian presidential spokesman Teuku Faizasyah, saying the leaders will meet Wednesday afternoon on the Indonesian island of Batam, stressed that comprehensive partnership can only be reinvigorated when the two countries "can rebuild trust and confidence by referring to a code of conduct" ...

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140603-713242.html