Indonesia, Philippine bolster security ties

Indonesia, Philippine bolster security ties

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia and the Philippines agreed on Monday to strengthen
security cooperation to fight terrorism and curb transnational
crimes in the region by intensifying naval patrols along the
border between the two countries.

"President Megawati and I have agreed to strengthen the
proposal discussed at the ASEAN summit for ASEAN nations to share
intelligence information on transnational crimes and to keep
tighter control over our borders," visiting Philippines President
Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo said in a joint media statement issued
here after a face-to-face meeting with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

"Indonesia and the Philippines have found a common goal in
strengthening world peace, fighting global terrorism and building
stronger security ... we need to prevent terrorism in our region
if we want trade and investment to flourish," she said.

Arroyo further underlined that, with prolonged economic woes
beleaguering the region over the last four years, it was
necessary for neighboring countries to ensure security in the
territory.

Megawati, for her part, said that the two countries would ask
their respective military chiefs to carry out joint border
patrols immediately.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda said the Philippines
had increased patrols along the border of the two countries to
curb the illicit trafficking of weapons.

Manila would host a meeting of officials from Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippine in an effort to
combat terrorism, he said, without elaborating.

The visit is Arroyo's first trip to Indonesia. She received a
21-gun salute during the welcoming ceremony at Merdeka Palace.
Megawati hosted a state banquet in honor of Gloria on Monday
evening.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of four agreements
covering energy, tourism, fisheries and investments.

Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro
told journalists on Monday that Indonesia had agreed to supply
coal and natural gas to the Philippines and to cooperate in
geothermal energy development and supplies of LNG, including from
the Pangguh gas field, beginning in 2005.

Purnomo said the Philippines would need some 35 million tons
of coal by 2005.

President Arroyo is scheduled to meet People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and Indonesian business community
leaders before flying back to Manila on Tuesday.