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)