Australia unswayed by RI's objection over security plan
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Visiting Defense Minister Robert Hill defended on Friday Canberra's proposal on a new maritime security zone following Indonesia's rejection.
The proposed security zone was not an extension of jurisdiction, but would give better protection to offshore oil rigs and assets, Hill said.
"It is an extension of geography within which we would like to know the nature of ships that intend to either transit Australian waters or to land in Australian ports," Hill told reporters in Jakarta after meeting Indonesian counterpart Juwono Sudarsono.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday the government could not accept Australia's proposed maritime security zone, as it infringed on Indonesian waters and violated freedom of navigation.
Hill said in response the proposed zone was not "in breach of any international law, and Australia obviously is committed and intends to comply to all international law obligations".
"We are committed to cooperation with our neighbors to achieve better security outcomes," he was quoted by AFP.
The proposal, which was announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister John Howard, all ships traveling to Australia will be required to provide details on their journey and cargo if they enter the 1,000 nautical mile (NM), or 1,800-kilometer, zone.
Vessels coming within 200 NM of the Australian coast will also be required to give extra details on cargo, ports visited, location, course, speed and intended port of arrival.
The move is similar to steps taken by the United States to raise maritime security standards amid fears of extremist attacks on ships. Washington has called on its allies to introduce similar measures.
Earlier on Friday, Hill held official talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss plans for a joint program to boost military ties between the two countries.
Juwono said he expected more Indonesian officers to undergo military training in Australia, a program that was halted following widespread allegations of gross human rights abuses in East Timor committed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) in 1999.
Hill echoed the hope, saying the program would be very useful to boost "a mutual trust in fighting terrorism".
"It is in our national interest to build our defense relationship with Indonesia and build military-to-military ties," he added.
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic country, has expressed concerns in the past about Canberra's plans to acquire long-range cruise missiles that Australia says will give it the "most lethal capacity" for air combat.
The neighboring countries have had prickly relations, but ties improved after their police forces worked together to investigate the October 2002 Bali bombings, which killed at least 202 people, including 88 Australians.
Australia also offered another cooperation in dealing with the August 2003 attack on Jakarta's JW Marriott Hotel that left 12 dead, and a suicide blast at the Australian Embassy in September, which killed 11 people.
Local authorities have blamed the attacks on al Qaeda-linked group Jamaah Islamiyah.