Indonesia: No Reciprocity, No Visa Exemption on Australians

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi just recently paid a state visit to Fiji and her schedule is not over yet as another meeting awaits her. Her agenda as of today (4/9/2015) includes meeting with Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop. The two discuss a number of things that are relatable to both countries agenda. 

One of the main points discussed during the meeting was the probability for visa exemptions on Australian tourist coming into Indonesia and vice versa.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Arrmanatha Nasir informs that such plan cannot be furthered as to its application. The reason for this is because of Australia’s refusal to reciprocate such gesture and so Indonesia feels that visa exemption opportunities on Australian visitors will only be given if Australia willing to make similar changes.

“Minister Bishop informs of her country’s unlikeness for its visa regime to be reciprocated,” Arrmanatha said during Indonesian Foreign Ministry press briefing held earlier this Friday, in Jakarta (4/8/2015).

“With that being said, Indonesia in return will not give Australian tourist any privilege of visa exemption,” he continued.

He is convinced that Australia too will understand Indonesia’s decision because the decision was made in accordance to Australia’s response.

“Minister Retno has been trying to inform Indonesia’s friendly nations regarding the interest of applying visa exemption should reciprocity is allowed by the recipient nations,” he explained.

“Such desire was built on the premise that nations can deepen ties with one another when barriers are brought down as to the access between the two countries. But surely, we, the Indonesian government understood the difficulty of it as Australia’s visa regime has always been a strict one and I know it is for the further assurance of the nation’s safety,” he concluded. (Akp/Rie)