Melbourne: Regretting any embarrassment caused to Indonesia, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott today rejected Indonesia's demand for an apology for the country's alleged spying activities that has triggered diplomatic tension between the two nations.
Speaking in the Parliament, Abbott said, Australia should not be expected to apologise for the "steps we take to protect our country".
Describing the surveillance as "reasonable", he said, "I don't believe that Australia should be expected to apologise for reasonable intelligence gathering operations, just as I don't expect other countries or other Governments to apologise for their reasonable intelligence gathering operations".
According to documents leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden, Australian intelligence agencies have reportedly spied on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and his close aides, prompting an angry Jakarta to recall its Ambassador and order a review of bilateral ties.
He said that every government "knows that every other government gathers information".
"Similarly, Australia shouldn't be expected to detail what we do to protect our country any more than other governments should be expected to detail what they do to protect theirs. Others should ask of us no more than they are prepared to do themselves," the Prime Minister said.
"It is the most important single relationship that we have" he said adding "Indeed, as one of the very best friends that we have anywhere in the world".
"But, it is in everyone's interests - Indonesia's no less than Australia's - that cool heads prevail and that our relationship grows closer, not more distant," Abbott added.
Speaking in the Parliament, Abbott said, Australia should not be expected to apologise for the "steps we take to protect our country".
Describing the surveillance as "reasonable", he said, "I don't believe that Australia should be expected to apologise for reasonable intelligence gathering operations, just as I don't expect other countries or other Governments to apologise for their reasonable intelligence gathering operations".
According to documents leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden, Australian intelligence agencies have reportedly spied on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and his close aides, prompting an angry Jakarta to recall its Ambassador and order a review of bilateral ties.
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He said that every government "knows that every other government gathers information".
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"Similarly, Australia shouldn't be expected to detail what we do to protect our country any more than other governments should be expected to detail what they do to protect theirs. Others should ask of us no more than they are prepared to do themselves," the Prime Minister said.
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"It is the most important single relationship that we have" he said adding "Indeed, as one of the very best friends that we have anywhere in the world".
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"But, it is in everyone's interests - Indonesia's no less than Australia's - that cool heads prevail and that our relationship grows closer, not more distant," Abbott added.
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