And we both believe that strong intelligence partnership is vital for both countries ..."
Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - The Governments of Indonesia and Australia signed a Joint Understanding of Code of Conduct (CoC) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday, in a bid to restore and enhance intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

The CoC was signed by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and was witnessed by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Minister Natalegawa stated that the inking of the CoC was within the framework of the security cooperation between the two countries known as the Lombok Treaty, which has two key constituents.

"First, the commitment on an agreement between the two sides on not using any of their intelligence, including surveillance capacity or other resources, in a way that can harm the interests of the parties," Natalegawa explained.

The CoC will also help the two sides to enhance their intelligence cooperation.

"With the signing of the CoC, there will be a full restoration of communication between the armed forces of the two countries, and they will be able to ascertain the kind of cooperation, which is needed in the future," the minister noted.

The basic message was that with the signing of the CoC, both countries "are back to where we have been" and will also be enhanced in the future, Natalegawa emphasized.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop stated that the CoC will serve as the basis to enhance intelligence cooperation between the agencies of the two countries.

"And we both believe that strong intelligence partnership is vital for both countries and is the most effective way to defeat those who want to harm the people of Australia and Indonesia," Bishop stressed.

Bishop affirmed that the joint understanding will serve as a guideline for regular and high-level contact between the respective heads of intelligence agencies and institutions as well as to promote dialogue and mutual understanding for working together to meet the challenges and respond to security threats, including the threat of homegrown extremists returning from the conflict-prone Middle East, Syria, and Iraq.
(T.A059/Uu.INE/A014/KR-BSR/A014)

Reporter: Aditya E.S. Wicaksono
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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