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)