RI, Australia sign accord on security<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia yesterday added further
\nsubstance to their warming relations, signing a security
\nagreement which officials hope will lay to rest any fears toward
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The Agreement on Maintaining Security was signed yesterday
\nafternoon by Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and his
\nAustralian counterpart Gareth Evans at the Merdeka Palace,
\nwitnessed by President Soeharto and Prime Minister Paul Keating.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono said he hoped
\nthe agreement would dispel any fears Australians may have toward
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Quoting Soeharto, Moerdiono said: "The President reiterated
\nthat the agreement should wipe out any doubts among certain
\nelements in Australia about Indonesia's position."<\/p>\n
During a meeting with Keating before the signing, Soeharto
\nspoke about the ideals in Indonesia's 1945 Constitution, which
\nasserts a respect for the sovereignty of other countries.<\/p>\n
"Based on this, Indonesia does not have any aggressive
\ntendencies towards any other country," Moerdiono said, quoting
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
Comprised of a preamble and four articles, the security
\nagreement requires both sides to undertake ministerial
\nconsultations on common security matters.<\/p>\n
Both sides shall also consider the possibility of joint
\nmeasures in the event of adverse challenges to either party or to
\ntheir common security interests.<\/p>\n
The agreement is seen by many as an umbrella which brings
\ntogether various forms of defense cooperation, including those to
\nbe undertaken in the future.<\/p>\n
Though relations between the two countries have been cordial,
\nIndonesia has often been perceived as a potential threat to
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, although it has acknowledged the 1976 integration
\nof East Timor as Indonesia's 27th province, Canberra has remained
\ncritical of Jakarta's human rights record in the former
\nPortuguese colony.<\/p>\n
After the signing, Keating told journalists that the agreement
\nputs "the mortar in the bricks of the relationship" and helps
\nestablish the "environment for the region well into the next
\ncentury."<\/p>\n
He said that the agreement would do a lot to reduce suspicion,
\nby making clear each country's strategic intentions toward the
\nother.<\/p>\n
Keating was accompanied on his visit by Deputy Prime Minister
\nKim Beazly, Defense Minister Robert Ray and armed forces chief
\nGen. John Baker.<\/p>\n
He and his entourage left Jakarta last night.<\/p>\n
This is Keating's sixth visit to Indonesia since 1991. It came
\njust as relations are rebounding from the strain caused by
\nIndonesia's withdrawal of its ambassadorial candidate to Canberra
\nearlier this year. The withdrawal followed Australian public
\noutrage over comments made by the candidate, former general
\nH.B.L. Mantiri, regarding East Timor.<\/p>\n
A fortnight ago Jakarta announced that it had selected senior
\ndiplomat Wirjono Sastrohandojo as its new ambassador to Canberra.<\/p>\n
Indonesian officials have played down the two-page security
\nagreement, which was drafted in secret over a period of 18
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Both Moerdiono and Alatas have stressed that the security
\nagreement does not imply that Indonesia is entering into a
\nmilitary pact with Australia.<\/p>\n
Moerdiono said the agreement merely formalizes the cooperation
\nwhich is already taking place between the two countries, such as
\njoint military exercises and visits.<\/p>\n
He said that both sides would continue to respect each other's
\nsovereignty, political freedom and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n
"In other words. both sides will adhere to the principles we
\nboth hold, which are mutual respect, non-interference in domestic
\nmatters and increased cooperation," Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Former Indonesian ambassador to Australia, Sabam Siagian, told
\nThe Jakarta Post that the agreement brings together all joint
\nprograms, including staff officer training, between the
\nIndonesian and Australian Armed Forces. The agreement also brings
\ntogether the annual meetings between various military commissions
\nand periodic discussions on strategic perceptions of the region.<\/p>\n
"So the agreement is quite natural and important," Sabam said.
\n"For Indonesia, it's useful because ABRI (the Armed Forces) can
\nlearn military thinking and technology from Australia, which also
\nreflects the military thinking and technology of Europe and North
\nAmerica." (mds\/anr)<\/p>\n
New phase -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-australia-sign-accord-on-security-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }