Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today cancelled at short notice his impending visit to Australia.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull says Dr Yudhoyono's cancelled visit to Australia shows relations with Indonesia are clearly "very strained".
It was an "extraordinary event" for an Indonesian president to cancel a visit to Australia at the last minute, having made a commitment to speak to the Parliament.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith claimed, that scheduling difficulties" had delayed his visit. The Opposition is concerned that cancellation of the visit is a sign of deteriorating relations between Canberra and Jakarta, in light of the Oceanic Viking stand-off.
Mr Smith rejected the suggestion, saying the relationship was "very, very good, first class".
Comment…
Australia’s relations with our neighbours have been on downward trajectory since the election of the Rudd Government. It seems incredible that a government headed by a gentleman who was so 'Well versed in Foreign Affairs’, should make so many blunders.
