Abbott said one of his priorities as Prime Minister was to maintain a strong relationship with Indonesia.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Saturday that he had written to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"The letter is now in the process of being delivered," he said as quoted by Australian media.
"I think it would be wrong of me to talk about what Ive said to the president before he has actually received it," he said as reported by HeraldSun.com.
Tony Abbott said he has written back to Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as he tries to smooth diplomatic tensions between the two countries, at odds over phone tapping.
Abbott reiterated the Australian governments commitment to a strong relationship between Australia and Indonesia.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had written to Abbott demanding an official apology and a full explanation as to why Australian spies in 2009 targeted his mobile phone, as well as his wifes and some of his closest confidants.
Indonesia has halted co-operation with Australia on people smuggling following the phone-tapping controversy.
On Thursday, Abbott told Parliament he had received a letter from the Indonesian president.
His admission came a day after Indonesia suspended military and intelligence cooperation with Australia, with Yudhoyono announcing he would write to Abbott demanding an official explanation of why Australian spies tapped his phone.
Meanwhile, ABC reported that Abbott replied to Yudhoyonos letter, but did not reveal the details of his correspondence.
He said one of his priorities as Prime Minister was to maintain a strong relationship with Indonesia.
"Therell be good days and therell be better days. But my determination is to ensure that the relationship is constantly improving and my gratitude is always to president Yudhoyono, who has been a very good friend to Australia - one of the best friends weve ever had," Abbott said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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