Indonesia and Russia agree to share classified information
Indonesia and Russia agree to share classified information
Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta
The governments of Indonesia and Russia have signed a mutual
agreement on the exchange of classified information on various
issues, including terrorism and military equipment.
Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Susanto Pudjomartono said the
agreement was evidence of the level of bilateral relations
between Jakarta and Moscow.
"The agreement was signed about a month ago. It would smooth
relations between the two countries," Susanto said after meeting
President Megawati Soekarnoputri recently.
Susanto reported to the President on the first three months of
his term as the country's envoy to Russia.
The confidential information would also allow Indonesia to
obtain the technical manuals of military equipment it would buy
from Russia.
In the past, Susanto said, Indonesia was only allowed to send
technicians to learn and undergo training in Russia to operate
the equipment. But Russia did not allow the Indonesian officers
to take manuals and training materials back home because these
were considered to be classified information.
Susanto said, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia would become
new markets for the Russian military industry, aside from China
and India.
Last year, Russia earned some US$5 billion from its military
industry, Susanto said.
Despite the agreement, Susanto said the Indonesian Embassy
would not involve itself in negotiations to purchase military
equipment.
"The Indonesian Embassy only facilitates negotiations or
arranges meetings between the two parties and visits of
Indonesian officials. The following stage is up to the Ministry
of Defense," said Susanto.
Susanto said the embassy was not involved in the controversial
purchase of four Russian-made helicopters ordered by the Army
either.
The controversy centered around the failure of Swifth Air &
Industrial Supply Pte Ltd, a company appointed as the middleman
in the deal, to present an advance payment.
This temporarily halted the purchase, which was valued at
$21.6 million.
The House of Representatives team of inquiry into the case
announced on Thursday that collective "mistakes" had been made by
high-ranking officers in the Army, the defense ministry and
finance ministry. The team recommended that the National Police
and the Attorney General's Office charge the broker, Andy
Kosasih, for causing state losses. It also recommended the
government cancel the deal.