Susilo talks defense with Bush, Putin<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Busan, South Korea<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has met U.S. President George
\nWalker Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on how
\nto enhance Indonesia's defense capabilities and of ways to
\ncontain the bird flu outbreak.<\/p>\n
The meetings were held separately on the sidelines of the two-
\nday Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan,
\nSouth Korea, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
In a 30-minute meeting with Bush early in the morning, Susilo
\ndiscussed a plan by the United States to resume full military
\nties with Indonesia after the U.S. Congress issued a bill to
\nrevoke a decades-long arms embargo on Indonesia under certain
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
\"I am not pleading for a resumption. We deserve it because we
\nhave undergone a long (process of) reform in our military, with
\nan emphasis on respecting human rights and democracy,\" he told a
\nnews conference late on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The United States scrapped military relations with Indonesia
\nafter the 1991 bloody killing of East Timorese demonstrators in
\nthe Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili.<\/p>\n
Under the U.S. Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
\nRelated Programs Appropriations Act 2006 (HR 3057), a foreign
\nmilitary financing program may be made available to assist
\nIndonesia, and licenses may be issued for the export of lethal
\ndefense articles for the Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
However, certain conditions were set for the assistance,
\nincluding cooperation between the TNI and civilian judicial
\nauthorities and international efforts to resolve cases of gross
\nviolations of human rights in East Timor and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will also be required to implement reforms to
\nimprove civilian control over the military.<\/p>\n
However, Susilo said Indonesia would no longer rely on just
\none or two countries for military equipment as it had done for
\ndecades. He did not specify to which countries he was referring.<\/p>\n
\"Past experience shows that relying too much on these kinds of
\ncountries creates difficulties. We can't use their equipment at
\ntimes most needed. But we are not deserting them. We just need to
\nbalance the system,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Speaking about his meeting with President Putin later on
\nSaturday, Susilo said that cooperation with Russia in the defense
\nsector should be seriously explored, as Indonesia was seeking
\nalternative suppliers of military equipment.<\/p>\n
The two leaders have agreed to assign officials for intensive
\nnegotiations in order to set up a joint production facility for
\ncertain sophisticated military equipment in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The two sides are expected to meet twice for negotiations
\nbefore Susilo visits Russia next year to close several deals in
\nthe defense sector and energy.<\/p>\n
\"Aside from cooperation in the defense industry, President
\nPutin also offered cooperation in the field of military training
\nand exchange of officers,\" Susilo said, while conveying his
\namazement at the capability of the Sukhoi fighter jets Indonesia
\nhad bought from Russia in 2003.<\/p>\n
Susilo and Bush also discussed the role the United States
\ncould play in helping Indonesia contain bird flu, and prevent the
\nvirus from spreading among humans.<\/p>\n
\"The discussion with President Bush was very constructive.
\nAmong the issues discussed was on the U.S. assistance in
\nproviding Indonesia with vaccines and other protective facilities
\nto contain the disease,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The two also discussed the progress of reconstruction in
\ntsunami-stricken Aceh, with Bush asking about details of
\nIndonesia's recent success in sealing a peace deal with the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
Bush also reiterated the U.S. stance on supporting the unity
\nof Indonesia, insisting that he would back the country in any way
\nto settle the problem of the separatism movement in Papua
\nprovince peacefully.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/susilo-talks-defense-with-bush-putin-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}