REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is optimistic that relationship between Indonesia and Australia remains strong despite two Australian men facing death penalty over drug convictions in Indonesia.

"Bilateral relation between Indonesia and Australia is strong. Australia states that anything will not hamper diplomatic relations between both countries," Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir said on Tuesday, January 20.

Australia has called Indonesia to show mercy to two Australian men facing the death penalty. "Indonesia is respecting their effort to defend their citizens. However, we must respect Indonesian law supremacy," Nasir said.

Australians Myuran Sukamaran and Andrew Chan are facing the death penalty in Bali Nine drug smuggling ring. Last week Prime Minister Tony Abbott renewed his written plea to Indonesian president Joko Widodo to accept requests for clemency on behalf of the pair.

"My job is to try and stop the executions going ahead," Abbott told the Australian Radio Network. "I don't want to pre-empt what may or may not happen afterwards, but I think these two are well and truly reformed characters and I hope the Indonesians will accept that, acknowledge it. I hope that the evidence of genuine remorse, of genuine rehabilitation, means that even at this late stage pleas for clemency might be accepted. Because in the end, mercy has to be a part of every justice system, including the Indonesian one," he said.

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