RI, Australia in joint SAR exercise

RI, Australia in joint SAR exercise

AMBON, Maluku: The Search and Rescue (SAR) agencies of
Indonesia and Australia will conduct another joint exercise later
this year in the waters off Merauke in Irian Jaya.

The chairman of the Indonesian National SAR Agency, Harianto,
said the area which is potentially rich in mineral resources has
been picked to test the capability of the two nations in handling
disasters, Antara reported.

Harianto said the exercise follows the successful drill the
two countries conducted last year in Timor Gap, an area off Timor
island in which the two countries have an agreement to jointly
exploit oil.

He did not give a precise date for when the joint exercise off
Merauke will be conducted.

Harianto was in Ambon on Saturday to oversee the transfer of
duties of the chief of the Transportation Office from Usup Wijaya
to Suwandi. (emb)