Indonesia, U.S. plan high-level military talks<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): High-ranking officers of the Indonesian and
\nUnited States armed forces will meet in Honolulu, Hawaii, in
\nNovember for what is hoped to be the start of regular military
\ntalks between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. William Owens said
\nhere yesterday that he would be heading the U.S. delegation along
\nwith Gen. Martin Steel, who would be representing the U.S.'s
\nPacific Command.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian delegation, to be chosen by Armed Forces
\nCommander Feisal Tanjung, has not yet been named.<\/p>\n
Owens left Jakarta yesterday after a two-day visit in which he
\nmet with President Soeharto. He was here as part of a regional
\ntour which includes Singapore and South Korea.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that the purpose of
\nOwens' visit was \"to meet with Indonesian government and military
\nleaders to discuss U.S. commitment to the region and military
\nissues of mutual concern.\"<\/p>\n
Owens told reporters after meeting Soeharto yesterday that
\nmilitary ties between the two countries would best be
\nstrengthened through the establishment of personal contacts
\nbetween officers of the two armies.<\/p>\n
Once these had been established, he said, talks between the
\ntwo forces could be held alternately in Indonesia and the U.S.<\/p>\n
The November dialog will provide an excellent forum the
\nexchange of information and experiences and the discussion of
\njoint military exercises.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the cessation of the International Military and
\nEducation Training (IMET) program in relation to Indonesia, Owens
\nsaid the Clinton administration and the U.S. military strongly
\nsupport the resumption of program.<\/p>\n
Congress cut the IMET program to Indonesia after the 1991 Dili
\nincident in which several dozen demonstrators were killed in a
\nclash with security forces in the province of East Timor.<\/p>\n
Owens, who is the second-highest-ranking officer in the U.S.
\nmilitary, expressed optimism that Congress would approve the
\nresumption of the training for Indonesian officers \"this fall.\"<\/p>\n
\"We are very hopeful that this will happen,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During a visit to Indonesia in March, Owens was already
\nexpressing his support for the resumption of IMET to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Owens also revealed that the United States is
\nplanning to sell F-16 fighter jets to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"There is a United States Air Force team that will come to
\nJakarta and provide information on various options that might
\nallow the Indonesian military to purchase F-16s,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Made by General Dynamics, the F-16 \"Fighting Falcon\" is a
\nsingle-seat light-weight tactical fighter which has become a
\nmainstay of the U.S. air force.<\/p>\n
Indonesia already has 11 F-16's and would like to have at
\nleast one squadron.<\/p>\n
\"If you ask 'how many?' then we need a lot,\" Feisal said at
\nthe same press briefing. \"When we have a squadron then the
\nminimal requirement will have been satisfied, but ideally of
\ncourse we'd like more than one squadron,\" he added.<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, during a meeting
\nwith Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas in Brunei
\nin August, raised the possibility of offering Indonesia F-16s
\nthat had originally been intended for Pakistan.<\/p>\n
A previous Indonesian attempt to buy Jordanian F-5 fighter
\njets in 1993 was blocked by the U.S. on grounds of suspected
\nhuman rights violations.(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-us-plan-high-level-military-talks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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