Australia Nominates New Ambassador to Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia (News Today) - The Australian government has nominated Greg Moriarty as Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, to replace Bill Farmer who has been ambassador since November 2005. "As is the case with all foreign ambassadors in Indonesia, Mr Moriarty’s appointment will be subject to agreement from the Government of Indonesia.

This process includes consideration by Indonesia’s Parliament," Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said in a press statement published on the Australian embassy’s official website here Wednesday. The relationship between Australia and Indonesia is stronger than ever, he said.

"Ours is a partnership between two open and robust democracies, described by both sides as a strategic asset during President Yudhoyono’s visit to Australia in March this year," the minister stated.

Australia and Indonesia work closely on shared interests including trade and investment, defence, development assistance, law enforcement, disaster management, counter-terrorism, climate change, and people smuggling.

"We have completed a feasibility study for an Australia-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement, paving the way for negotiation of an agreement in the future," Smith disclosed.

Reflecting the strength of bilateral ties, there have been 70 ministerial visits in both directions since November 2007. People-to-people links are broad and long standing. In 2009, almost 18,000 Indonesian students studied in Australian educational institutions. Around 550,000 Australians visited Indonesia in 2009, a record number.

Moriarty is a senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is currently First Assistant Secretary, Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division, a position he has held since April 2009. He has extensive experience within DFAT and previously served overseas as Ambassador to Iran. He has served previously in Indonesia, in Papua New Guinea, and as Senior Negotiator with the Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville.

Moriarty holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours from the University of Western Australia and a Masters Degree in Strategic and Defence Studies from the Australian National University. He is married with two children. Moriarty has studied Indonesian and Tok Pisin.

Source : kompas

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