Megawati eyes jet fighters from Russia
Agencies, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri left on Sunday for her five-day arms shopping trip to Russia, with plans to purchase Sukhoi jet fighters and possibly a floating nuclear power plant.
Upon her arrival in Russia, Megawati was greeted by the country's top officials, and a welcoming ceremony in her honor has been scheduled for Monday.
Megawati is to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Monday and to witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding, including one regarding the purchase of the fighters.
Jakarta is set to purchase two Sukhoi-27 and two Sukhoi-30 jet fighters worth US$500million from Moscow to improve its military capability, which has suffered from the nearly four-year arm military embargo by the United States.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Research and Technology M. Hatta Radjasa said on Sunday that Russia had also offered a floating nuclear power plant to augment Indonesia's electricity supply.
"The mobile power plant could be used in emergencies, if certain areas in our country suffer from electrical shortages," Hatta was quoted by Antara as saying.
The minister said that Russia had further offered to construct a rocket and satellite launch pad in Biak, Papua.
In regards the purchase of the Sukhoi jet fighters, Hatta said that Indonesia had proposed a counter trade in aircraft spare parts to Russia.
"We have the ability to supply several types of aircraft parts, such as aircraft wings, and other avionic equipment," he said.
The government's purchase of jet fighters from Russia is seen as a move to diversify its arms supplies from its traditional supplier, the U.S.
It is also reported that the President has been advised to learn from Russia's experience, especially in dealing with economic and secessionist problems.
Unlike Indonesia, which is still facing many difficulties in overcoming the economic crisis and its resulting hardships, Russia is emerging as one of the major players in the arena of international politics.
Moscow cut its dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2001, and regained control of Chechnya after ousting secessionist rebels in a massive military operation in 1994.
On Monday, Megawati is to speak with the Federation Council Chairman Sergei M. Mironov and Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.
On the third day of her visit, she is to receive an honorary doctorate from Moscow Diplomatic Academy, and view a demonstration of the Sukhoi-27 and the Sukhoi-30 at Zhukovsky Air Base, near Moscow.
Megawati is to continue her visit to St. Petersburg on Wednesday, where she will visit several tourist attractions.
After her visit to Russia, she is to leave for Poland on Thursday and is slated to return to Jakarta on April 27.
Megawati's visit to Russia is the first visit by an Indonesian president in 23 years.