QUESTION: Richard, could you explain why the U.S. feels it is so important, despite obvious concerns that the Indonesians have about the foreign military presence there, if they're saying, look, we don't need any more help, we'll be able to handle this on our own, why the U.S. believes it needs to tell the Indonesians that you need to stay?
MR. BOUCHER: They're not saying that.
QUESTION: Yeah, they are. I mean, you know, I spoke to --
MR. BOUCHER: No, they're not.
QUESTION: Richard, the Vice President was very clear in his statement yesterday, the Indonesians --
MR. BOUCHER: I just spent five minutes explaining our discussions with the Vice President.
QUESTION: I understand that. I was listening to you.
MR. BOUCHER: But the Indonesians are not saying we don't need the help, go home.
QUESTION: They are.
MR. BOUCHER: No, they're not.
QUESTION: Yeah, Richard --
MR. BOUCHER: They are not saying it to us. We are talking to them directly. We are talking to them every day on the ground in the operations.
QUESTION: But they're making public statements. They're making --
MR. BOUCHER: They're not saying it to us. They're not saying to anybody involved in this relief operation, "That's fine. Go home." When they do, when they can take care of it, that's fine, we'll go home.
QUESTION: So when the Indonesian Vice President says -- or, excuse me, the Foreign Minister says, we will be able to handle this as of March 26th, foreign military and aid groups can leave, how do you interpret that?
MR. BOUCHER: That is not what he said to us when we asked him about it. We asked him about his public remarks and he gave us an explanation that I've just passed on to you. That's what he says.
QUESTION: So you're saying that they are not giving the U.S. an explicit --
MR. BOUCHER: No one is asking us to go home.

PRESS RELEASE No.: 03/PEN/I/2005
**snip**
Today, Acting Leader of the Australian Labour Party, Senator Chris Evans has visited the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia for formally expressing the condolences and sympathies of the Australian Labour Party to the Indonesian government and its people, as well as the victims of the recent natural disaster in the Provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra.
**snip**
On behalf of the Indonesian government, H.E. Mr. lmron Cotan conveyed his appreciation for the commitment of assistance offered by the Australian Labour Party, and is looking forward to working closely with the Australian Labour Party and the Australian government for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programs in the affected areas.

Canberra, 10 January 2005

PRESS RELEASE No. 94/PR/XII/2004
**snip**
The Government of Indonesia highly appreciates the humanitarian assistance pledged and dispatched by friendly countries from all over the world as well as by international organizations, NGOs, and even individuals.
**snip**
Jakarta, 30 December 2004