Indonesia, U.S. plan high-level military talks

Indonesia, U.S. plan high-level military talks

JAKARTA (JP): High-ranking officers of the Indonesian and
United States armed forces will meet in Honolulu, Hawaii, in
November for what is hoped to be the start of regular military
talks between the two countries.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Adm. William Owens said
here yesterday that he would be heading the U.S. delegation along
with Gen. Martin Steel, who would be representing the U.S.'s
Pacific Command.

The Indonesian delegation, to be chosen by Armed Forces
Commander Feisal Tanjung, has not yet been named.

Owens left Jakarta yesterday after a two-day visit in which he
met with President Soeharto. He was here as part of a regional
tour which includes Singapore and South Korea.

The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that the purpose of
Owens' visit was "to meet with Indonesian government and military
leaders to discuss U.S. commitment to the region and military
issues of mutual concern."

Owens told reporters after meeting Soeharto yesterday that
military ties between the two countries would best be
strengthened through the establishment of personal contacts
between officers of the two armies.

Once these had been established, he said, talks between the
two forces could be held alternately in Indonesia and the U.S.

The November dialog will provide an excellent forum the
exchange of information and experiences and the discussion of
joint military exercises.

Speaking on the cessation of the International Military and
Education Training (IMET) program in relation to Indonesia, Owens
said the Clinton administration and the U.S. military strongly
support the resumption of program.

Congress cut the IMET program to Indonesia after the 1991 Dili
incident in which several dozen demonstrators were killed in a
clash with security forces in the province of East Timor.

Owens, who is the second-highest-ranking officer in the U.S.
military, expressed optimism that Congress would approve the
resumption of the training for Indonesian officers "this fall."

"We are very hopeful that this will happen," he said.

During a visit to Indonesia in March, Owens was already
expressing his support for the resumption of IMET to Indonesia.

Yesterday, Owens also revealed that the United States is
planning to sell F-16 fighter jets to Indonesia.

"There is a United States Air Force team that will come to
Jakarta and provide information on various options that might
allow the Indonesian military to purchase F-16s," he said.

Made by General Dynamics, the F-16 "Fighting Falcon" is a
single-seat light-weight tactical fighter which has become a
mainstay of the U.S. air force.

Indonesia already has 11 F-16's and would like to have at
least one squadron.

"If you ask 'how many?' then we need a lot," Feisal said at
the same press briefing. "When we have a squadron then the
minimal requirement will have been satisfied, but ideally of
course we'd like more than one squadron," he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, during a meeting
with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas in Brunei
in August, raised the possibility of offering Indonesia F-16s
that had originally been intended for Pakistan.

A previous Indonesian attempt to buy Jordanian F-5 fighter
jets in 1993 was blocked by the U.S. on grounds of suspected
human rights violations.(mds)