RI, U.S. begin talks on defense and security
RI, U.S. begin talks on defense and security
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia began sensitive talks with the United States on
Wednesday with hopes of a resumption of military ties between the
two countries.
Speaking after signing the terms of reference for the meeting,
Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil said that the talks were
a major step toward laying a solid foundation for Jakarta's aim
of an immediate resumption of military ties between the two
countries.
"We consider that our relationship has not returned to normal
yet. Through such a meeting, we are trying to reveal obstacles we
both have in our relationship in a bid to lay foundations for
mutual understanding and better defense ties in the future,"
Matori said.
The terms of reference was signed by both delegation leaders,
namely Indonesian Military (TNI) director general for defense
Maj. Gen. Sudrajat and U.S. deputy assistant defense secretary
for Asia-Pacific Peter Brookes.
Matori would not comment on the obstacles the TNI had in its
relationship with the U.S. government.
The U.S. cut its military ties with Indonesia in 1999 after it
accused the TNI of taking part in the infamous post-ballot
violence in East Timor.
The military ties between the two countries have been restored
incrementally since 2000, but the U.S. still maintains an embargo
on combat equipment.
The lifting of the embargo, another term for the resumption of
military ties, is important for the TNI, since U.S.-made military
hardware comprises a significant portion of the TNI's weaponry.
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce hinted that the
resumption of military ties would not materialize in the near
future.
The U.S. government apparently still needs assurances that
internal reforms in the TNI have really taken place before it
will resume full military cooperation with the TNI.
"There is still a way to go. With good intentions on both
sides, we ought to be able to get a more normal military
relationship in the future," Boyce told reporters after the
signing of the terms of reference.
Both Matori and Boyce said that regular security dialogs
between the two sides would be held in the future, in a bid to
promote a mutual understanding between the two countries.
More than 40 Indonesian military and government delegates
attended the meeting, called "Indonesia-U.S. Security Dialogs I".
The U.S.-team consists of 11 members from various security
agencies.