Indonesia president sees Australia security dialog<\/p>\n
Agencies, Melbourne, Australia<\/p>\n
Indonesia's new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has said he
\nwould welcome a strengthened security dialog with Australia, but
\nit need not necessarily be underpinned by a treaty.<\/p>\n
\"Actually we did have in the past a kind of agreement on
\nmaintaining security. What we need now is a kind of security
\ndialog, a forum ... on matters on security,\" he said in an
\ninterview for Australia's Sunday television program.<\/p>\n
Such a forum should include the 10 regional neighbors who make
\nup the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he said.<\/p>\n
\"I don't have any proposal submitted by the Australian
\ngovernment related to the so-called security treaty,\" Susilo
\nsaid. \"But for me, it would be more proper if we just go to
\nstrengthen our security dialog.\"<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last week
\nafter talks with Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda that the
\ntwo sides considered it would be constructive in the medium term
\nto develop some form of broad security treaty.<\/p>\n
Susilo said he had not received any Australian government
\nproposal on the issue.<\/p>\n
\"But for me it would be more proper if we just go to
\nstrengthen our security dialog, as also happened within ASEAN
\n(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) context,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The former general took office last month as the first
\ndirectly elected leader of Indonesia, the world's most populous
\nMuslim nation.<\/p>\n
The Sunday program, on the Nine Network, said Susilo had
\nindicated in the interview that he could take a more active
\ninternational role as a moderate Muslim leader.<\/p>\n
Susilo said Australia's role in Iraq, where it supported the
\nU.S.-led invasion, would not harm Indonesia's relationship with
\nits neighbor.<\/p>\n
\"We do not see that kind of situation will hinder our
\nbilateral relationships and cooperation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Australia and Indonesia signed a deal in 1995 that committed
\nthe two countries to ministerial consultations about security,
\nincreasing cooperation and consultations in the event of a threat
\nto either country or to regional security.<\/p>\n
That treaty, negotiated in secret between former President
\nSoeharto and ex-prime minister Paul Keating in 1995, was
\nabandoned along with joint military training exercises after
\nAustralia led United Nations peacekeepers into East Timor to end
\na rampage by Indonesian military-sponsored militias, angered by
\nthe former Indonesian province's vote for independence.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, Malaysia has issued a warning
\nagainst any possible challenge to its sovereignty after a
\nnewspaper report that new Australian warplanes will be able to
\nlaunch long-range missiles at targets anywhere in Asia.<\/p>\n
Australia plans to place cruise missiles on its new Joint
\nStrike Fighter fleet, expected to be delivered in Australia from
\n2012, the Australian newspaper reported on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak said he felt Australia
\nwould respect Asian nations' sovereignty but stressed Malaysia
\ncould look after its own interests, including fighting terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot decide what they can or cannot do,\" Najib told
\nstate news agency Bernama on a visit to Malaysia's east coast on
\nSaturday night. \"(But) don't challenge our sovereignty.\"<\/p>\n
\"For Malaysia, we need not interfere in the affairs of other
\ncountries because we can take care of our own interests,
\nincluding fighting terrorism that may come from our own
\nterritory,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The Australian said the Joint Strike Fighters had a range of
\n600 nautical miles, compared to 290 nautical miles for the F\/A-18
\nHornet fighters that Australia had previously said would be armed
\nwith the missiles.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard caused alarm in Asia two years ago
\nby saying Australia had the right to launch pre-emptive strikes
\nin another country as a legitimate response to terrorist threats.
\nHe reiterated that view in the run-up to this month's general
\nelection, which his ruling coalition won.<\/p>\n
Howard also recently announced plans for a regional spy school
\nand for counter-terrorism teams in Asia.<\/p>",
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