04/22/08 00:31

TNI and Timor Leste military to establish defense cooperation

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Chief General Djoko Santoso said his side and Timor Leste Armed Forces planned to establish a defense cooperation in improving security in the two countries` border region.

"We will hold talks on the substance of whether it will cover education, contacts or securing the border regions," Djoko said after opening a joint military exercise in the military airbase of Halim Perdanakusumah here Monday.

He said that the military policy on Timor Leste in patrolling the two countries` border regions would have a bearing on the government`s political policy.

"What is being done and what will be done is based on political powers, while foreign policy covers civilian authority," he said.

The military top man further said that till now there was nothing special after the shooting of President Ramost Horta and the Prime Minister of Timor Leste.(*)