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.