SINGAPORE COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH RI
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Singapore is committed to strengthening defense cooperation with Indonesia through the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) to be further discussed by the two neighbors at the end of August 2006.
The purpose of the defense cooperation between the two countries is to build stronger mutually beneficial partnership, Singapore`s Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean said here Tuesday after meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono.
The different interpretation of several points in the discussion on the defense cooperation between the two countries is common in efforts to foster understanding aimed at developing cooperation and partnership mutually beneficial to both sides, he explained.
Giving an example, he pointed out that the Indonesian Air Force and Singapore`s Air Force have long engaged in cooperation in promoting their capabilities on the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit.
What already achieved by the two air forces in the defense cooperation indicates that two military bodies can work together and become friends to each other, according to Hean.
More over, Indonesia and Singapore have long exchanged their military officers to share their experiences, he said, adding that the core of the defense cooperation is very close and strong interaction between the Armed Forces as well as people of the two countries, which can be further promote in the future.
Thus, different interpretation is not an important impediment in strengthening the future defense cooperation based on understanding and mutual benefit between the two countries, he revealed.
As part of the effort to strengthen defense cooperation, Indonesia and Singapore have carried out joint military exercises in the Military Training Area (MTA) since 2000. The two countries have agreed to launch joint military exercises in MTA I in Tanjung Pinang waters and MTA II in the South China Sea.
However, Indonesia has noticed that Singapore has frequently violated Indonesian sovereignty during the joint military exercise, including the involvement of the third parties such as the United States and Australia.
Indications that Singapore has often committed violations have caused Indonesia to make a unilateral decision to stop the use of MTA facilities in 2003. To resume defense cooperation between the two countries, Singapore`s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has forwarded a DCA concept to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bali in 2005.
Indonesia has accepted the concept, which includes the use of MTA in the enclosure. But up to fourth round of the meeting on resumption of the defense cooperation, the two countries have not reached agreement.
Minister Juwono Sudarsono disclosed that the factor hampering the talks to reach agreement is different interpretation of six matters, including the period of the bilateral defense cooperation, the involvement of the third parties, the settlement of disputes, and Indonesia`s acknowledgement of Singapore`s traditional right in the South China Sea.
The two countries have agreed to continue the bilateral talks at the end of August and the beginning of September 2006 in Indonesia to seek solution to the difference, according to Juwono.(*
The purpose of the defense cooperation between the two countries is to build stronger mutually beneficial partnership, Singapore`s Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean said here Tuesday after meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono.
The different interpretation of several points in the discussion on the defense cooperation between the two countries is common in efforts to foster understanding aimed at developing cooperation and partnership mutually beneficial to both sides, he explained.
Giving an example, he pointed out that the Indonesian Air Force and Singapore`s Air Force have long engaged in cooperation in promoting their capabilities on the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit.
What already achieved by the two air forces in the defense cooperation indicates that two military bodies can work together and become friends to each other, according to Hean.
More over, Indonesia and Singapore have long exchanged their military officers to share their experiences, he said, adding that the core of the defense cooperation is very close and strong interaction between the Armed Forces as well as people of the two countries, which can be further promote in the future.
Thus, different interpretation is not an important impediment in strengthening the future defense cooperation based on understanding and mutual benefit between the two countries, he revealed.
As part of the effort to strengthen defense cooperation, Indonesia and Singapore have carried out joint military exercises in the Military Training Area (MTA) since 2000. The two countries have agreed to launch joint military exercises in MTA I in Tanjung Pinang waters and MTA II in the South China Sea.
However, Indonesia has noticed that Singapore has frequently violated Indonesian sovereignty during the joint military exercise, including the involvement of the third parties such as the United States and Australia.
Indications that Singapore has often committed violations have caused Indonesia to make a unilateral decision to stop the use of MTA facilities in 2003. To resume defense cooperation between the two countries, Singapore`s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has forwarded a DCA concept to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bali in 2005.
Indonesia has accepted the concept, which includes the use of MTA in the enclosure. But up to fourth round of the meeting on resumption of the defense cooperation, the two countries have not reached agreement.
Minister Juwono Sudarsono disclosed that the factor hampering the talks to reach agreement is different interpretation of six matters, including the period of the bilateral defense cooperation, the involvement of the third parties, the settlement of disputes, and Indonesia`s acknowledgement of Singapore`s traditional right in the South China Sea.
The two countries have agreed to continue the bilateral talks at the end of August and the beginning of September 2006 in Indonesia to seek solution to the difference, according to Juwono.(*
posted by Zumrowi Yunus at
7:31 PM
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