Megawati plans to visit to Russia in April

Megawati plans to visit to Russia in April

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri plans to visit Russia next April
over possible talks of purchasing Russian weapons, in what would
mark the first visit by an Indonesian president to Moscow in 13
years.

The plan comes on the heels of Foreign Minister Hassan
Wirayuda's trip to Moscow in September last year. It too was the
first visit by a high-ranking Indonesian official in 13 years.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Marty M.
Natalegawa said Megawati's planned trip underlined the important
role of Russia on the international front.

"The planned visit is a recognition of that fact," he told
reporters at a press briefing on Friday.

Marty could only say Megawati would depart for Moscow in "the
near future".

A spokesperson at the Russian embassy said the visit was
slated for mid to late April.

Marty said the agenda for the upcoming talks was still being
discussed, yet he did not rule out the possibility of Indonesia
seeking Russian weapons.

Following the 1999 U.S. military embargo, the Indonesian
military has been looking to mainly former Eastern block
countries for new weapons.

Some of Indonesia's U.S. military products, such as the
sophisticated yet costly F-16 fighter jets, are now idle due to
the absence of spare parts.

Indonesia must also look for cheaper alternatives in the
European weaponry markets since the 1997 economic crisis has put
a heavy strain on the military budget.

During Megawati's trip to the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina last year she was exploring the
purchase of arms from these countries.

Washington severed its military ties with Indonesia in
response to the violence in East Timor following the UN-backed
ballot for independence from Indonesia in 1999.

Indonesian military officials allegedly supported the pro-
Jakarta militias who killed hundreds of East Timorese while
destroying much of the infrastructure in the capital of Dili.