RI still optimistic over U.S. arms sales

RI still optimistic over U.S. arms sales

Rendi Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has expressed guarded optimism that the United
States will not extend its 13-year military embargo on Indonesia.

Even if Congress maintains the ban, Indonesia can still expect
the U.S. administration to seek alternative policies that would
enable Washington to export the equipment Jakarta needs,
presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said on Tuesday.

Dino said a renewed campaign by several U.S. lawmakers to
convince President George W. Bush's administration to extend its
military embargo on Indonesia was far from being guaranteed
success in Congress.

"The embargo decision is still being debated at the Congress.
From the language of the debate, we are still optimistic that the
embargo will not be extended. We should see developments within
the next two weeks," said Dino.

Bush is seeking approval from Congress for US$20.9 billion in
foreign aid that includes military assistance for several
countries, including Indonesia.

A conference of Senate and House of Representatives lawmakers
agreed last week to maintain restrictions on foreign military
finance and on exports of lethal military equipment to Indonesia
until Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice certifies that the
Indonesian Military (TNI) met certain conditions, including
the prosecution and punishment of TNI officers involved in gross
human rights violations in Indonesia and East Timor, and the
implementation of reforms "to improve civilian control of the
military."

Dino said that should Congress extend the embargo, the U.S.
administration could still use veto Congress' decision.

However, he added that the any veto would only be issued if it
would benefit U.S. security and defense interests in the long
run.

"With regard to military cooperation, President Susilo will
meet U.S. President George W. Bush during the annual APEC meeting
in South Korea to specifically discuss the issue," said Dino.

Indonesia's military equipment has been steadily deteriorating
as a result of the arms ban, which was slapped on the country
following the atrocities in the former province of East Timor in
1992. -- JP