Jakarta – Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto said military cooperation between Indonesia and Australia would remain normal despite the souring of Indonesia-Australia relations following Canberra's action in granting temporary visas to 42 Papuan asylum-seekers.

"We can express our displeasure and dismay over Australia's policy but it should not destroy the foundations of the two countries' bilateral relations in a wider sense," Djoko said after attending a get-together with active and retired servicemen here on Tuesday.

He said Indonesia and Australia had been actively stepping up their bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, including in education and the taging of joint military exercises.

"We have to be realistic and note that we have cooperation with Australia in various fields. Therefore, we should maintain the existing cooperation without ignoring our feelings of displeasure and dismay over Australia's policy," he noted.

The TNI chief said military cooperation between the two countries was conducted within the framework of "Indonesian-Australian Defence Strategic Dialog (IADSD)" and the TNI-Australian Defence Force cooperation forum in the form of high level talks and exchange of soldiers and students.

The objective of the cooperation, he said, was to step up the profesionalism of the soldiers through education and trainings.

Besides, defence cooperation between the two countries is also implemented in the form of joint operation, while the coordination patrol at both countries' territorial waters is not conducted for the time being because of the worsening relations.

On the occasion, Djoko also asserted that there would be no addition in the number of military personnel in Papua, because the problem in the province is related with political matter, not security one.

He said the presence of TNI personnel in Papua was limited to the security affairs at the mining area of PT Freeport and the border area between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.