Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australia will respect the will of the people of Indonesia in the upcoming presidential election scheduled in July 2014, stated Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty.

"Australia welcomes the presidential election in Indonesia as a positive sign of the countrys democratic strengths," noted Moriarty when contacted by Antara here on Friday.

"As a fellow democracy, Australia respects the will of the people of Indonesia. We will work closely with whoever is elected through this democratic process," Moriarty added.

Moriarty claimed that Australia and Indonesia have a strong, cooperative agenda across a wide range of common interests and challenges.

"The relationship is greater than any single issue, spanning a wide range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral activities that benefit both countries," Moriarty emphasized.

This is a historic year for Indonesian politics as the country is holding the election process, which started with the legislative elections on April 9 and will be followed by the presidential election on July 9.

The upcoming presidential election will likely be contested by only two pairs: Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla and Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa. The winner of the election will be announced on July 26. The new president will be inaugurated on October 20, 2014.

This years presidential election will be Indonesias third direct and democratic presidential election, since the countrys political reforms that occurred between the 1990s and the early 2000s.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) has received the nomination of two presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs: Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla and Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa.

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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