Susilo, Howard vow to address security issues<\/p>\n
Endy Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Santiago<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister
\nJohn Howard agreed on Friday to address concerns about defense
\nand security matters to prevent possible misunderstandings in the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
The leaders, during a brief meeting here on the sidelines of
\nthe Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, decided that
\ntheir respective defense ministers should meet soon to address
\nany problem that might come up between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Jalal told Indonesian
\nreporters that the leaders did not go into detail about any
\nmisunderstanding that has developed in bilateral relations. But
\nDino recalled a recent incident when Indonesia raised questions
\nabout Australia's plans to develop its missile defense system.<\/p>\n
This is the second time that Susilo and Howard have met in
\nless than a month. Howard, after winning reelection for a record
\nfourth term in office, went to Jakarta for the inauguration of
\nPresident Susilo in mid-October.<\/p>\n
Dino described the meeting on Friday as very cordial and
\namicable.<\/p>\n
\"From my own personal observation, they seem to have hit it
\noff, judging from their body language, their remarks and their
\njokes.\"<\/p>\n
The two are longtime acquaintances; as Indonesia's chief
\nsecurity minister under President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Susilo
\nled the country's campaign against terror.<\/p>\n
The two countries, which have had their share of differences
\nin the past, were brought closer together when two huge
\nexplosions killed more than 200 people, most of them Australians,
\nat nightclubs in Bali in October 2002.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Australia have since forged closer ties in
\nfighting the threat of terrorism in the region. At the meeting on
\nFriday, the two leaders underscored the need for their police,
\nattorney general's offices and intelligence bodies to sustain
\ntheir cooperation.<\/p>\n
Susilo and Howard also discussed the trilateral forum
\ninvolving Indonesia, Australia and East Timor, as well as the
\nwider South West Pacific Forum, as ways of enhancing regional
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian president used the half-hour meeting to talk
\nabout his effort to revive the Indonesian economy, underlining
\nhis plan to organize an \"Infrastructure Summit\" in Jakarta in
\nJanuary, an event in which he hoped Australian companies would
\nattend.<\/p>\n
Howard promised that he would encourage Australian investors
\nto take part, according to Dino.<\/p>\n
The Australian leader sympathized with Indonesia's efforts to
\nget the economy back on track.<\/p>\n
\"He (Howard) basically said that he sees Indonesia as a
\npartner and a friend, and that he wanted to see Indonesia
\nsucceed,\" Dino said.<\/p>\n
Susilo is planning to make Australia one of the first
\ndestinations for his overseas official visits once his first 100
\ndays in office is completed at the end of January.<\/p>\n
He has defended his decision to come to Santiago, and to
\nattend the ASEAN summit in Vientiane next weekend, saying that
\nsuch summits presented him with rare opportunities to meet with
\nas many leaders as he could.<\/p>\n
In Santiago, he met with the leaders of China, Vietnam and New
\nZealand as well as the host president on Friday. On Saturday, he
\nhas scheduled meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush, as
\nwell as the leaders of Canada, Russia and Japan.<\/p>",
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