Megawati eyes jet fighters from Russia

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.