Canberra – Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas has lauded the Australian government's objection to include human rights in the European Union trade pact, Australian Deputy Prime Minister/Trade Minister Tim Fischer said.

Australia's ABC radio news network on Friday reported that in his bilateral meeting with Alatas in Mauritius, Fischer said Indonesia has thrown its support behind Australia's objection to the demand of European Union which links the trade pact with human rights issues.

It said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will further meet with European Union countries to finalize the free trade pact but Fischer reiterated that Indonesia supports Australia's stance.

Fischer also quoted Alatas as saying that the European Union countries have taken the wrong path if they insist on including human rights in the trade pact.

Fischer was in Mauritius to attend the first meeting of the Regional Cooperation Ministers of the Association of Indian Ocean Countries.

He will continue his journey to the Middle East to promote Australian export goods and services and campaign against barriers to the entry of Australian products to the region.

Fischer's 10-day Middle East tour starting March 6 will include Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.