President Yudhoyono to Receive Ambassador to Australia

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at his office is scheduled to receive Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Najib Riphat at 11 am on Wednesday. Following the recent wiretapping incidents, Indonesia has recalled Najib from Canberra as an expression of its disappointment over the case. The president will receive Najib for consultation and to get information on what was really happening in Australia. Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa earlier said that Indonesia had decided to recall its ambassador as he would be unable to perform his tasks properly amidst the ongoing spying issues. Natalegawa noted the government has summoned Najib to Jakarta from Australia to offer Indonesia's response on the wiretapping allegation, and to evaluate the two countries' relations if the issue was not settled immediately. "Frankly speaking that it is something that cannot be belittled or underestimated, and therefore we have recalled our ambassador to Australia in Canberra for consultation and evaluation," Natalegawa said on Tuesday. According to him, Indonesia would ascertain the next steps to be taken, if Australia failed to solve the problem immediately.(*) (T.SYS/B/O. Tamindael)