Australia, RI military hold forum

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)