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Bishop says PM's Indonesia comments have proved unhelpful

Xinhua, February 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Tony Abbott's decision to link Australia's attempts at rescuing two citizens from death row in Indonesia with foreign aid funding has proved unhelpful.

Last week, as Australia continued to push for clemency bids for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the prime minister suggested Indonesia remembers the country's 780 million U.S. dollar aid contribution towards victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami when it makes its ultimate decision on their fate.

The statement drew immediate backlash from Indonesian officials, with a spokesperson for the foreign minister perceiving the comments as a "threat" and claiming "no one responds well to threats."

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Bishop agreed and said there was a chance Abbott's comments may have complicated matters in Indonesia.

"It was seen that way in Indonesia and that's why I spoke to Vice President (Jusuf) Kalla to make it quite clear that the prime minister did not intend to link it in an unhelpful way," Bishop said.

"What he was pointing out was that Australia has always been a friend of Indonesia, we are there when Indonesia needs us.

"Vice President Kalla accepted that that's the way the words should be taken."

When questioned further on whether Abbott's comments could disrupt Australia's attempts to gain clemency for the pair, Bishop said: "Well, that's how it was reported in the press."

Chan and Sukumaran are set to face the firing squad imminently after being sentenced to the death penalty for a plan to smuggle 8. 3 kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia in 2005.

Initial bids for clemency have so far been rejected, but the pair's lawyers are set to appear in court again on Tuesday to review the decision.

Bishop reiterated that the Australian government continues to work tirelessly in their campaign to spare the lives of its two citizens.

"I'm aware of Australian businesses who operate in Indonesia who are also making representations with government contacts that they have," Bishop said.

"We're not leaving any stone unturned in our efforts to seek clemency for these two Australian citizens." Endi