RI enthusiastic about security deal: Minister<\/p>\n
CANBERRA (AFP): Indonesia remains enthusiastic about a
\nsecurity treaty with Australia although it had yet to ratify the
\ndocument, Defense Minister Ian McLachlan said yesterday.<\/p>\n
McLachlan was questioned in a television interview about why
\nIndonesia had yet to ratify the treaty, which was worked out in
\nsecret by the former Labor government and unveiled in December.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know the answer to that, but I can tell you that in
\nmy conversation with President Soeharto he expressed enthusiasm
\nfor it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It was possible that the Indonesians were deciding whether it
\nshould be ratified through the parliamentary system or signed by
\nthe president, he said.<\/p>\n
\"But I'm not worried about the fact that they've cooled off on
\nit in any way at all because we've had expressions both via
\n(Indonesian Foreign Minister) Mr. (Ali) Alatas and via the
\npresident in the opposite direction,\" McLachlan said.<\/p>\n
The accord commits the two countries to consultations when
\neither or both is adversely challenged and to consider joint
\nresponses.<\/p>\n
It also promotes security co-operation and ministerial
\nconsultations over common security interests.
\nAustralia has ratified the treaty.<\/p>\n
The conservative coalition which won power in March has said
\nthat it would honor the security treaty despite objections to the
\nway it had been introduced.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-enthusiastic-about-security-deal-minister-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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