CANBERRA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Friday that bilateral relationship with Indonesia would not be affected by Australia's decision to grant temporary visas to a group of asylum seekers from Indonesia's Papua province.

    The Indonesian government has protested against Australia's decision, saying it has negated the spirit of bilateral cooperation over illegal migrants.

    Speaking before it became public knowledge that Jakarta had recalled its ambassador from Canberra, Downer said he understood that there would be protests of one kind or another from Indonesia,but bilateral cooperation would not be affected.

    "We have no alternative but to apply the laws of our land and to fulfill our international obligations under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention," Downer was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio as saying.

    "The agreements we have between Australia and Indonesia are in both of our interests, and I think the Indonesians recognize that.So, you know, they're obviously disappointed and there'll no doubt be some expressions of disappointment from the Indonesians," he said.

    Downer said since cooperation with Indonesia was very close and effective in recent years, he expected the cooperation would continue.

    The Australian government's decision was supported by the Federal Opposition. Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said it was regrettable that Indonesia has decided to recall its ambassador, urging "diplomatic restraint on the part of our friends in Jakarta" so the bilateral relationship could continue to develop.

    The Indonesian asylum seekers sailed from Papua to Australia in January in order to escape alleged genocide by the Indonesian police.

    Separatist movement has been active in the province. The Indonesian government has repeatedly vowed to tackle the problem for national unity and stability. Enditem