Indonesia, Australia agree to strengthen defense cooperation

AFB - Indonesia and Australia have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation covering among others boosting maritime territorial protection, defense industry and personnel training.

"The inter-governmental cooperation is expected to also increase relations in the people-to-people context in the framework of increasing defense cooperation between the two countries," Indonesia`s minister of defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro said to newsmen here on Wednesday following a 2+2 format meeting between the two countries` ministers of defense and foreign affairs.

He said the meeting was the follow up of the implementation of the agreement made in an annual meeting in 2012.

In several meetings Indonesia and Australia have unceasingly discussed maritime security, authority over sea territory protection, defense industry and training of personnel.

"We need solid coordination to safeguard the two countries` maritime territories," Purnomo said.

The coordination, he said, could be implemented for example in joint patrol to cover loopholes for crimes to happen that would disrupt the two countries` defense.

Purnomo said the meeting had also discussed defense industry issues such as the extension of four Hercules C130 models to Indonesia in 2012.

"Thank you for that and it will become an additional factor for the next talks and agreement," he said.

The talks also covered an agreement for the holding of a joint exercise in Sydney this year, he said.

"We have also discussed education, personnel training involving forces such as Kopassus (army`s special forces) and humanitarian missions during natural disasters," he added.

Foreign minister Marty Natalegawa who also represented the country in the meeting meanwhile said that consolidation between the two countries has strengthened marked by lots of initiatives from the two sides to increase defense cooperation.

"The relations between the two countries have been very comprehensive and the two countries have also been more routinely conducting communication. Besides the ministerial level meeting there will also be a meeting between the President and the Australian prime minister in the middle of the year," he said.

Australian defense minister Stephen Smith said Indonesia is a very important country and influential with regard to regional security.

"Operational cooperation in the field of defense has been stronger," he said.

The next meeting between the two countries to discuss cooperation in the field of defense is scheduled to be held in Perth, Australia, this year.

Antara.