Australian govt briefs Indonesia over missile plan<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A day after the government expressed its concern over Australia's
\nplan to boost its offensive capability, Canberra briefed Jakarta
\non Friday, regarding its plan to purchase long-range cruise
\nmissiles.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa
\nwelcomed Australia's initiative to directly explain the reasons
\nbehind the plan, saying the move would help avoid
\nmisunderstandings between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\"Thank God, from today (Friday), the two governments, through
\nthe foreign ministry, are discussing the nature of Australia's
\ndecision,\" Marty said on Friday.<\/p>\n
He declined to go into detail about the talks with Australia.<\/p>\n
\"This, we think, is something positive. Transparency is vital
\nas far as confidence-building measures (are concerned), because,
\nin the absence of transparency, they (Australia) could give an
\nunintentional response,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"To build confidence and trust, that these kinds of things are
\ncommunicated to the relevant parties is never a mistake,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Indonesia could get caught in an arms race due
\nto the plan, Marty said: \"Regional security, not security against
\n(others in) the region. That's Indonesia's position.\"<\/p>\n
\"We are not, to be honest, paranoid over the recent
\nannouncement by the Australian government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Marty said Indonesia's response to Australia's announcement
\nwas deliberate, as it did not want to make any rash judgments.<\/p>\n
\"It is natural for us to ask ourselves against whom will these
\nweapons be directed. They are able to destroy targets up to 400
\nkilometers away -- are they meant for firing at fish out at sea,
\nor what?<\/p>\n
\"Problems arise when announcements are made without careful
\nexplanation, and misperceptions may result,<\/p>\n
\"We have said that we respect (Australia) and have no
\ndifficulties whatsoever in understanding the facts. This is a
\nsovereign matter for Australia to decide in its defense policy,
\nwhich has to be understood and appreciated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill announced on Thursday
\nhis country would spend up to A$450 million (US$319 million) to
\narm F\/A-18 Hornet fighters and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol
\naircraft with air-to-surface missiles capable of hitting targets
\nup to 400 km away, which would be installed between 2007 and
\n2009.<\/p>\n
News of the missiles came a day after a poll showed that the
\nAustralian public views Indonesia as the country's greatest
\nexternal threat.<\/p>\n
The Hornets, which have a combat flight radius of 740 km and
\ncan be fueled in flight, will also be equipped with advanced
\nshort-range air-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n
Australia said it would choose from three new long-range
\ncruise missiles produced by Lockheed Martin Corp., Taurus Systems
\nGmbH -- partly owned by Saab -- and Boeing Co.<\/p>\n
The three are: the Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile
\n(JASSM), which has the longest range; a variant of the cruise
\nmissile KEPD 350; and the Stand-off Land Attack Missile Expanded
\nResponse (SLAM-ER), based on the Harpoon antiship missile.<\/p>",
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