Poland aiming to sell more arms to RI
Poland aiming to sell more arms to RI
Agencies, Warsaw
The Polish government said Tuesday that it plans to increase
weapons sales and possibly begin military training for Indonesia,
despite a U.S. arms embargo against the nation.
Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said Poland has granted
US$75 million in export credits to Indonesia for the purchase of
Polish-made aircraft, and that future deals could include sales
of radar equipment.
Szmajdzinski did not address whether the deal violated the
embargo after a meeting with Suprihadi, secretary-general of the
Indonesian Defense Ministry.
But an aide, Piotr Pertek, defended the deal, saying the
equipment was for non-combat use.
Poland is the closest U.S. ally in eastern Europe, but the
lure of arms sales to Indonesia could place it in a bind.
Washington imposed an embargo on military equipment and spare
parts after the Indonesian army's bloody rampage in East Timor in
1999.
Suprihadi, who uses only one name, said his country wants to
buy 11 more planes for its navy, in addition to 11 Polish-built
helicopters and four planes his country recently bought.
"We want to make new purchases. On our list are things that
are already in the works: 11 Mi-2 helicopters and four Skytruck
planes. We are also interested in buying 11 extra Skytrucks," he
said.
Szmajdzinski told reporters that he and Suprihadi were
exploring plans for Indonesian officers to be trained in Polish
military academies, but did not elaborate.
Later in the day, Suprihadi also met with President Aleksander
Kwasniewski for talks on terrorism and economic and military
cooperation, the president's office said. Suprihadi's visit to
Poland also included tours of aviation and radar plants.
Indonesia has been turning to alternative arms suppliers since
Washington halted most military contacts with Jakarta in 1999
following the military's failure to stem violence in East Timor.
The export credit as granted during a visit to Indonesia by
President Kwasniewski in February.