Counterterrorism center expected before Bali meeting next month<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A counterterrorism to be established by Indonesia and Australia
\nis expected to be up and running before the Regional Ministerial
\nMeeting on Counterterrorism in early February, an official said
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The sooner the better, if possible before the ministerial
\nmeeting. We are now in the process of finalizing the
\narrangements,\" said Director General of Multilateral Cooperation
\non Political, Social and Security Affairs, Makmur Widodo.<\/p>\n
The plan for the counterterrorism center, which will be
\nlocated in Indonesia, was agreed on following a period of
\nunprecedented cooperation between Canberra and Jakarta on
\nterrorism in the wake of the Oct. 12, 2002, bombings in Bali that
\nkilled 202 people, 88 of whom were Australians.<\/p>\n
Makmur said the ministerial meeting was aimed at discussing
\njoint efforts to curb terrorism in the region, including
\ncooperation on law enforcement and information exchanges.<\/p>\n
The meeting was also expected to result in an agreement on the
\nestablishment of a central forensic laboratory and a training
\ncenter for antiterror units.<\/p>\n
Twenty-three countries from the Asia Pacific region have been
\ninvited to the two-day ministerial meeting on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5,
\nwhich is being co-sponsored by the Indonesian and Australian
\ngovernments.<\/p>\n
Apart from the participating countries, six international
\norganizations, and a number of countries from outside the region,
\nsuch as the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany,
\nhave been invited to attend as observers.<\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Indonesian Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda discussed the plan to co-host
\nthe meeting in August last year.<\/p>\n
The announcement of the plan came five days after the bombing
\nof the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, which left 12 people dead
\nand 149 others injured.<\/p>\n
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said
\nthe two countries had long being exploring the possibility of co-
\nhosting such a regional ministerial meeting even before the
\nMarriott bombing.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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