Poland, RI to boost defense cooperation
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.