-
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith - Source: Q+A -
Related
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has played down the potential of a diplomatic rift between Australia and Indonesia over a war crimes investigation into the deaths of the Balibo Five.
But he admits the Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation came as a surprise to Indonesia when Canberra advised Jakarta ahead of a public announcement.
The AFP decision came nearly two years after a NSW coronial inquest concluded Indonesian forces had deliberately killed five Australian journalists in 1975 to cover up their invasion of East Timor.
"There's no point beating about the bush, Indonesia is surprised by this decision," Mr Smith told ABC Radio on Thursday.
The Indonesian ambassador in Canberra had been advised that the AFP operated independently of government, he said.
"We don't regard these as issues that will disturb the fundamentals of the relationship."
Smith said he was "absolutely confident" Australia and Indonesia could deal with the latest development in "a calm and sensible way".
The relationship between the two nations was at its highest point in history, he said.
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
