Poland, RI to boost defense cooperation
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian and Polish governments agreed on Saturday to boost cooperation in defense, including the possible joint production of arms.
The countries also signed an agreement on cooperation to fight transnational crime, including terrorism, drug and human trafficking and money laundering.
"Our cooperation in the areas of defense and police forces has been improving. We are considering the joint production, transfer of technology and procurement of selected arms," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said during a joint press conference after bilateral talks with Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
There were no immediate details of the cooperation in the defense industry.
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said later that Indonesia hoped to buy 10 additional Skytruck maritime patrol and civilian planes from Poland, following the recent purchase of four aircraft for US$145 million.
Subject to a United States military sales embargo since 1999 due to human rights violations in East Timor, Indonesia is seeking competitively priced arms and other military hardware from different sources.
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri visited Warsaw in April 2003, where Poland offered Indonesia extensive military cooperation.
Susilo said Jakarta wanted to enhance its economic ties with Poland, whose economic rise in Europe a year after joining the European Union made it an "important friend and partner" for Indonesia.
Belka said the two sides discussed ways to bring "fruitful" political and economic results for both countries.
"Trade volume is growing but it remains below our joint potentials," the Polish leader said.
He proposed a wide range of economic cooperation, including in the areas of energy, shipping and the food industry.
Later in the day, the two countries signed a cooperation accord on a joint fight against transnational crimes.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the agreement would enable police forces from both countries to share information, which would help them deal with acts of terrorism.
Da'i also offered Polish law enforcers the opportunity to attend an international antiterror school in Semarang.
Terrorism remains a real threat in Indonesia, particularly with two Malaysian bomb experts who are suspects in three major bomb attacks in the country since 2002, Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Moh. Top, still at large.
The police recently announced the arrests of 24 suspected members of Jamaah Islamiyah, the group blamed for the deadly bombings. One of the suspects is believed to have close links with Azahari.
Balka and his entourage are on a four-day visit to Indonesia, which started on Friday. During his stay the prime minister will hold talks with the Indonesian Chamber of Trade and Commerce, visit aircraft maker PTDI and the National Electronics Institute, both in Bandung, and Borobudur and Prambanan temples in Magelang and Yogyakarta, respectively.