Megawati looks for Romanian guns as U.S. embargo takes toll<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is looking into possible
\ncooperation in the weapons industry with Romania to accommodate
\nIndonesia's need for weapons after an almost four-year military
\nembargo imposed by the United States.<\/p>\n
In the second day of her visit on Saturday to the Eastern
\nEuropean country, Megawati had the chance to see the weaponry
\nindustries and a demonstration from the Romanian military.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
\nsaid that the TNI was seeking to purchase jet fighters,
\nhelicopters and tanks during the official trip to Romania, Russia
\nand Poland.<\/p>\n
\"The purchase will be made in accordance with our military
\nbudget,\" Endriartono, who was among presidential entourage, said.<\/p>\n
Last year, Indonesia began to seek other sources of military
\nhardware, after almost three decades of being dependent on U.S.-
\nmade weaponry, due to the ongoing military embargo imposed by the
\nU.S. Congress in 1999.<\/p>\n
Romania is known for its tank industry, which produces the M-
\n77, the TAB-72 and TAB-77 tanks, which were a modification of
\nSoviet-made tanks.<\/p>\n
The country's 12 state-owned and 11 private companies
\nmanufacture small-caliber arms, artillery, ammunition, wheeled-
\nand-tracked armored vehicles, communications, optical and
\nelectronic equipment, aviation equipment, explosives and
\npropellants.<\/p>\n
Megawati was on a three-day state visit to Romania as part of
\nher 10-day tour to eastern European countries, including Russia
\nand Poland.<\/p>\n
The President was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs
\nHassan Wirayuda, Minister for Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi,
\nState Minister for Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa, State
\nSecretary Bambang Kesowo and TNI chief Endriartono.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, Megawati held talks with Romanian President
\nIon Iliescu. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of
\nseveral Memorandums of Understanding on the power industry and on
\nscience and technology.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that State-owned electricity company PLN
\nPresident Director Eddie Widiyono said that there was a
\npossibility for Romania to participate in the 2x50 megawatt power
\nplant project in Asam-asam, South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
In the joint press conference on Friday, the two leaders,
\ndespite differing policies on the Iraq issue, agreed that the
\nUnited Nations should be revitalized in maintaining world peace.<\/p>\n
\"The Romanian President and I discussed how we could empower
\nthe United Nations to take more effective steps to ensure world
\npeace,\" Megawati said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Iliescu concurred saying that: \"Both of us discussed the
\nlatest situation in Iraq as well as that in the Middle East.\"<\/p>\n
Romania was among the U.S. supporters on the Iraq war, while
\nIndonesia considered the war an act of aggression, which
\nsidelined the UN.<\/p>\n
During the visit, Megawati also met Prime Minister Adrian
\nNastase and other politicians before traveling to Russia and then
\nPoland.<\/p>\n
Megawati was slated to fly to Moscow on Sunday and hold
\nbilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin regarding several
\nissues including Iraq and arms purchases on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian President was reported to have purchased two
\nSukhoi Su-27 and two Sukhoi Su-30 jet fighters valued at US$500
\nmillion from Russia.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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