Indonesia president sees Australia security dialog
Indonesia president sees Australia security dialog
Agencies, Melbourne, Australia
Indonesia's new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has said he would welcome a strengthened security dialog with Australia, but it need not necessarily be underpinned by a treaty.
"Actually we did have in the past a kind of agreement on maintaining security. What we need now is a kind of security dialog, a forum ... on matters on security," he said in an interview for Australia's Sunday television program.
Such a forum should include the 10 regional neighbors who make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he said.
"I don't have any proposal submitted by the Australian government related to the so-called security treaty," Susilo said. "But for me, it would be more proper if we just go to strengthen our security dialog."
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last week after talks with Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda that the two sides considered it would be constructive in the medium term to develop some form of broad security treaty.
Susilo said he had not received any Australian government proposal on the issue.
"But for me it would be more proper if we just go to strengthen our security dialog, as also happened within ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) context," he said.
The former general took office last month as the first directly elected leader of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The Sunday program, on the Nine Network, said Susilo had indicated in the interview that he could take a more active international role as a moderate Muslim leader.
Susilo said Australia's role in Iraq, where it supported the U.S.-led invasion, would not harm Indonesia's relationship with its neighbor.
"We do not see that kind of situation will hinder our bilateral relationships and cooperation," he said.
Australia and Indonesia signed a deal in 1995 that committed the two countries to ministerial consultations about security, increasing cooperation and consultations in the event of a threat to either country or to regional security.
That treaty, negotiated in secret between former President Soeharto and ex-prime minister Paul Keating in 1995, was abandoned along with joint military training exercises after Australia led United Nations peacekeepers into East Timor to end a rampage by Indonesian military-sponsored militias, angered by the former Indonesian province's vote for independence.
In a separate development, Malaysia has issued a warning against any possible challenge to its sovereignty after a newspaper report that new Australian warplanes will be able to launch long-range missiles at targets anywhere in Asia.
Australia plans to place cruise missiles on its new Joint Strike Fighter fleet, expected to be delivered in Australia from 2012, the Australian newspaper reported on Saturday.
Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak said he felt Australia would respect Asian nations' sovereignty but stressed Malaysia could look after its own interests, including fighting terrorism.
"We cannot decide what they can or cannot do," Najib told state news agency Bernama on a visit to Malaysia's east coast on Saturday night. "(But) don't challenge our sovereignty."
"For Malaysia, we need not interfere in the affairs of other countries because we can take care of our own interests, including fighting terrorism that may come from our own territory," he added.
The Australian said the Joint Strike Fighters had a range of 600 nautical miles, compared to 290 nautical miles for the F/A-18 Hornet fighters that Australia had previously said would be armed with the missiles.
Prime Minister John Howard caused alarm in Asia two years ago by saying Australia had the right to launch pre-emptive strikes in another country as a legitimate response to terrorist threats. He reiterated that view in the run-up to this month's general election, which his ruling coalition won.
Howard also recently announced plans for a regional spy school and for counter-terrorism teams in Asia.