Indonesian special forces (Kopassus) soldiers (Photo: AP)Sydney (VND) — Australia is seeking to calm tensions with Indonesia after Jakartasuspended military ties with Canberra because of "insulting" teachingmaterials found at an Australian base.
AustralianDefense Minister Marise Payne on January 5 expressed regrets about the incidentand said that a thorough investigation of the row was nearly complete.
A day earlier,Indonesia announced it had suspended defence cooperation with Australia afteran Indonesian military officer who was attending a training class in the westAustralian city of Perth discovered that its teaching materials offend theIndonesian armed force and solidarity among its people.
Indonesianmilitary spokesman Maj. Gen. Wuryanto said the training materials were amongmany factors behind the decision to suspend cooperation with Australia.
MinisterPayne said the current issue began in November, after an Indonesian militaryofficer raised concerns about some teaching materials at the base.
Payne said aninquiry was launched to look into the incident, and its results would bereported to the Indonesian Government and army. The training materials inquestion had been removed, and would soon be replaced with "appropriate"materials, she added.
Meanwhile,Indonesian President Joko Widodo told reporters in Jakarta on January 5 thathis country's relationship with Australia remained good, adding that the issueshould be cleared up so that the situation would not be “hotter”.-VNA
VNA
