Fed: Downer goes to Indonesia to talk terror

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2003
Fed: Downer goes to Indonesia to talk terror

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER has embarked on a two-day trip of Indonesia to discuss
new ways of fighting terrorism.

Mr DOWNER says he'll emphasise during the bilateral talks that Australia believes most
Muslims are moderate and have nothing to do with terrorism.

However, Mr DOWNER says a small minority of Muslims are extremist and present the world
with a major challenge.

Mr Downer will attend the general conference of the Council for Security Cooperation
in the Asia Pacific.

He says Australia and Indonesia have worked well together, citing the example of joint
co-operation to bring the Bali bombers to justice.

The meetings are a precursor to a regional conference on counter-terrorism that Mr
DOWNER will co-host in February with Indonesia's Foreign Minister HASSAN WIRAJUDA.

AAP RTV sal/jas

KEYWORD: DOWNER (CANBERRA)

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