Megawati looks for Romanian guns as U.S. embargo takes toll

Megawati looks for Romanian guns as U.S. embargo takes toll

Agencies, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is looking into possible
cooperation in the weapons industry with Romania to accommodate
Indonesia's need for weapons after an almost four-year military
embargo imposed by the United States.

In the second day of her visit on Saturday to the Eastern
European country, Megawati had the chance to see the weaponry
industries and a demonstration from the Romanian military.

Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
said that the TNI was seeking to purchase jet fighters,
helicopters and tanks during the official trip to Romania, Russia
and Poland.

"The purchase will be made in accordance with our military
budget," Endriartono, who was among presidential entourage, said.

Last year, Indonesia began to seek other sources of military
hardware, after almost three decades of being dependent on U.S.-
made weaponry, due to the ongoing military embargo imposed by the
U.S. Congress in 1999.

Romania is known for its tank industry, which produces the M-
77, the TAB-72 and TAB-77 tanks, which were a modification of
Soviet-made tanks.

The country's 12 state-owned and 11 private companies
manufacture small-caliber arms, artillery, ammunition, wheeled-
and-tracked armored vehicles, communications, optical and
electronic equipment, aviation equipment, explosives and
propellants.

Megawati was on a three-day state visit to Romania as part of
her 10-day tour to eastern European countries, including Russia
and Poland.

The President was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs
Hassan Wirayuda, Minister for Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi,
State Minister for Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa, State
Secretary Bambang Kesowo and TNI chief Endriartono.

Earlier on Friday, Megawati held talks with Romanian President
Ion Iliescu. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of
several Memorandums of Understanding on the power industry and on
science and technology.

Antara reported that State-owned electricity company PLN
President Director Eddie Widiyono said that there was a
possibility for Romania to participate in the 2x50 megawatt power
plant project in Asam-asam, South Kalimantan.

In the joint press conference on Friday, the two leaders,
despite differing policies on the Iraq issue, agreed that the
United Nations should be revitalized in maintaining world peace.

"The Romanian President and I discussed how we could empower
the United Nations to take more effective steps to ensure world
peace," Megawati said as quoted by Antara.

Iliescu concurred saying that: "Both of us discussed the
latest situation in Iraq as well as that in the Middle East."

Romania was among the U.S. supporters on the Iraq war, while
Indonesia considered the war an act of aggression, which
sidelined the UN.

During the visit, Megawati also met Prime Minister Adrian
Nastase and other politicians before traveling to Russia and then
Poland.

Megawati was slated to fly to Moscow on Sunday and hold
bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin regarding several
issues including Iraq and arms purchases on Monday.

The Indonesian President was reported to have purchased two
Sukhoi Su-27 and two Sukhoi Su-30 jet fighters valued at US$500
million from Russia.