After keeping mum on the contents of the letter that Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot sent to Jakarta, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono broke his silence on Tuesday and publicly disclosed what Mr Abbott wrote.

He said Mr Abbott promised not to take any action in the future that would damage the relations between the two countries. However, Mr Yudhoyono said bilateral cooperation would remain on hold until Canberra signs behavioural protocols and a code of ethics.

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In response, Mr Abbott proposed a new security round table to help fix the damaged relations between the two countries.

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said, "The answer from PM Abbott meets our expectations, but I will stop there ... We see this letter as a response to our request, because president SBY earlier sent a letter to the Australian PM to request for his explanation over what actually happened with the wiretapping issue."

Mr Abbott said, quoted by The Australian ,"What I'd like to see in the future is some kind of security round table where we are more open with each other and where we build even stronger relationships of trust ... I want Australia to be Indonesia's trusted partner, just as I want Indonesia to be our trusted partner."

Before the president made the admission, the Indonesian government said it would speed up efforts to source its cattle requirements from other nations besides Australia, which would hurt Aussie cattle raisers.

As part of the move, Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wiirjawan asked the country's parliament to study a possible alteration to animal health that would allow the entry of live cattle from other nations such as Brazil, even if some animals there suffer from foot and mouth disease.

Retired Army Chief, Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, hand carried Mr Abbott's letter to Mr Yudhoyono. He initially went to Jakarta to personally deliver the letter to Mr Yudhoyono, but the latter turned out to be in Bali.

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