| Subject: Australia, Indonesia Hold 1st
Military Exercise For 6 Yrs
Australia, Indonesia Hold 1st Military Exercise For 6 Yrs
CANBERRA, April 12 (AP)--The Indonesian and Australian air forces have
launched their first joint military exercise since relations between the
two countries plummeted over Jakarta-sponsored violence in East Timor
nearly six years ago, the government said Wednesday.
Indonesia scrapped a defense treaty with Canberra when Australia led a
U.N. military force against pro-Jakarta militias who razed East Timor and
killed up to 1,000 people after the Indonesian province voted for
independence. All joint military training was canceled.
But relations have been on the mend in recent years, with both sides
working closely together after the 2002 Bali bombings and the December
tsunami.
Last week, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed an
agreement to create a new security pact when he made his first official
trip to Australia.
As part of the agreement, Prime Minister John Howard guaranteed
Australia would not support secessionists in the provinces of Aceh and
West Papua.
Defense Minister Robert Hill said Wednesday the joint air force
exercise which began Tuesday reflected the renewed commitment between the
two countries to strengthen their defense relations.
"Exercise Albatros Ausindo is a further opportunity to build the
relationship and it demonstrates the cooperation and our shared commitment
to maritime security," Hill said in a statement, adding that both
sides would look for ways to deepen their military ties.
The exercise involves maritime surveillance conducted by an Indonesian
Air Force B737 Surveiller aircraft and a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C
Orion and will run until the end of the week. The exercise was last
conducted in 1998.
The Indonesian navy will participate in a regional defense exercise in
northern Australian waters in August, Hill said.
A joint naval exercise between Indonesia and Australia involving patrol
boats was also being considered for later this year, he said.
Back to April menu
March
World Leaders Contact List
Main Postings Menu
|
