(26 Jun 2006)
1. Australian Prime Minister John Howard's plane taxiing on arrival
2. Howard disembarking from plane and is greeted by Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda
3. Howard greeting officials on tarmac
4. Pan to officials
5. Various of Howard and Warajuda meeting
6. Howard's car leaving airport
7. Howard entering room for news conference
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Howard, Australian Prime Minister:
"Australia and Indonesia are very different countries but we are thrown together by geography and history, particularly recent history, and we'll be forever partners in this part of the world. And therefore, there's an obligation on the part of the leaders of the countries, whoever they may be, from time to time to work harder on the relationship. It is an important relationship for Australia."
9. Wide of Howard at news conference
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Howard, Australian Prime Minister:
"The best thing I could do as the leader of a country that is very friendly towards East Timor is to express the hope that the East Timorese resolve their own differences through their own democratic processes. Australia cannot maintain forces in East Timor indefinitely."
11. Pan to hotel
12. Various of police and security
13. Pan to armed soldiers guarding beach area
STORYLINE:
Australia was expected to defend its decision to accept asylum seekers from Indonesia's Papua province during talks on Monday between the nations' leaders, and to express displeasure over the recent release of an alleged terrorist leader from prison in Indonesia.
The political crisis in neighbouring East Timor will also probably feature on the agenda.
On arrival in Batam, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he hoped "that the East Timorese resolve their own differences through their own democratic processes."
"Australia cannot maintain forces in East Timor indefinitely," he added.
Howard arrived in Batam on the Indonesian island of Batam on Monday and was greeted by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.
Later Howard will meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a meeting aimed at improving historically turbulent ties between the two countries.
There were many sensitive issues to discuss.
Australia triggered Jakarta's anger this year when it granted visas to 42 asylum seekers from Papua, but Howard reiterated before arriving in Batam that his government supported the restive province remaining part of Indonesia.
But he also said he would convey Australia's displeasure at the release from an Indonesian prison of a militant cleric convicted of involvement in the 2002 terrorist bombings on Bali island that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
There was widespread Australian outrage at the release of Abu Bakar Bashir after serving 26 months in prison for conspiring in the attacks.
Howard and Yudhoyono were also expected to discuss an Australia-Indonesia security agreement to replace the one Jakarta tore up in 1999, after Australia intervened in East Timor's bloody split from Indonesia.
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