Australia, RI military hold forum

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto and his Australian counterpart Admiral Chris Barric are heading their countries' delegations at a three-day bilateral forum, opened here on Tuesday, to discuss cooperation in defense and security.

The forum, which is closed to the public, will feature on the Indonesian side political researcher and presidential spokeswoman Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Chief of ABRI Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, military observers Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo and Elliot Cohen, who is based in Indonesia, and Chief of the ABRI School of Command Lt. Gen. Agus Widjaja.

A spokesman for Gen. Wiranto, Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif, said a speaker from the Australian delegation, Brabin-Smith, was scheduled to discuss the future of conflict, Cohen would discuss the principles and emerging trends in civil-military relations while Agus and Susilo would present papers on the role of the military.

Syamsul said the Jakarta meeting was the second such gathering since the forum was officially formed by President B.J. Habibie last August. He said the first meeting was held in Australia last month.

"The establishment of this forum is aimed at enhancing bilateral military cooperation among the leaders of the two Armed Forces," Syamsul said.

"This forum is the result of the two countries' commitment to upgrade the current level of joint operational exercises and to share views among the two countries' high-ranking officers," he said.

The forum is also considered an effective medium for the exchange of information, insight and military technology, Syamsul added. (rms)