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.