The British already made embargo since 1999 due to East Timor post-referendum violence.



Agreed, I've always said Indonesia should never depend too much on US military hardware and must diversify arms source.



Becoming US ally does not mean Indonesia must follow the bad examples of Egypt and other Arab countries I mentioned, who choose to become countries heavily dependent on US aid. American alliance does not neccesarily translate into reliance on US aid. Japan, South Korea and Singapore all are strong US allies (Japan and South Korea even sent soldiers to Iraq) but they all develop themselves from poor countries into rich developed countries by self-reliance, although at the early stages they were greatly aided by US subsidies and quota preference. What did the US want by helping Japan and South Korea? They want economically-prosperous countries able to resist communist advance during Cold War. South Korea and Japan are good examples for Indonesia.

At present long war on terrorism, Indonesia should clearly align itself with USA in fighting fundamentalist terrorists who had bombed Indonesia four times in the past 4 years. What the USA want now is to keep Indonesia as a secular Pancasila state, and prevent Indonesia from becoming a fundamentalist Islamic state at all costs. It is in Indonesia's interest to prevent people like Amrozi from becoming the leaders of the country.

Oke, everyone has the right to have an own country/place to live.But after WWII the Britans an Americans had made the decision that Palestina will become the new country of the Jews. After that, the Jews immigrate with hundreds of thousands, and hundreds of thousands Palestinian are kicked out of their own country.... sometimes they got only some hours to take some barang pribadi(i dont know in English) with them.
They not only suppress and discriminate the muslims but also christian Palestines. Its completely idiot that you have become a second grade citizen, an 'Untermensch' in your own country, only because the Jewish thinking that that piece of the world belongs to them because they are the chosen ones....

Now you are in denial by telling us you are not biased against Arab, just on your previous post you babbling out of nothing without doing a bit study first, telling us Arab country had nothing done helping Indonesia during natural disaster. And what made you think they have big chat and big mouth? Look around my friend we send only maid to their countries.

It is not only my position staunchly against Israel policy toward Palestinian, It is Indonesian current government and previous government staunchly support Palestinian cause supported by majority Indonesians including me support our government policy. If you deny this you are deluded person It seems you are working as Indonesian civil servant but you are against Indonesian goverment policy.


Only insane people will support Zionist policy against Palestinian. Indonesian current government staunchly support Palestinian and also close to hundreds of countries all the world, so you think all of them have close mind? Don't you think you need to open your own mind?


Heck don't cover up your self with humanity after biased against others. And since when we are discussing about Jew? Jew is religion while Arabs, Malay, Germans, Indians you mentioned above are ethnicity.
Since when our discussion turn to be religion vs religion? why you need to bring religion issue in the first place?

It was affecting Indonesia on Aceh Issue also, British object their equipment being used during Aceh operation especially their scorpion tank. The point is as long as you rely your defense procurement on 1 sided only you are prone to be put on embargo because it is their right to do so since that is their product.


Didn't you said yesterday Indonesian need to recognize Israel in order to get limitless aid from US like Egypt and other arab countries? here is your yesterday below:

Today you change your mind? by saying no need to follow Egypt?


Indonesia is sovereign country, other countries shall not tell Indonesia what to do for Indonesia internal issue, if you agree US interfere Indonesian internal issue so let be other countries like Australia or Malaysia doing the same. Indonesia is not mini and small country but big country with heroic history which do not need act like beggar on the street to find ally.


Amrozi has been put on death raw beside what made people like your type thinking majority Indos would choose terrorist as future leader?

Jew is not just a religion, for goodness sake! Jew is also a nation. Are you blind or dumb?

And if I think Indonesia should be more friendly with Israel, it's my own opinion. And I CAN have my OWN opinion, right? Indonesia is a DEMOCRACY, right? So, what's your point?

You're the one, who messes all the issues: political, religion, economic, social, etc, etc. And you argue one has to study more to understand world politics..

You actually don't know what you're talking, right? And you give lots of bunch of "studies" from the Internet just to show off your "ability" to argue, right?

OK, continue with your world, with your studies and with your arguments. We're not getting anywhere with a position like that.

Indonesia used Scorpion tanks back in 2003 anyways as we like because we've purchased them, so Britain had no say in this matter.



Indonesia can become like South Korea and Japan, who used US aid to develop self-sustaining economies. Or, Indonesia could choose to become like Egypt and other Arab countries who became dependent on US aid. Naturally, we should choose the first path.



When did I say Indonesia should allow US to dictate our internal affairs? What I said, US and Indonesia currently have the same enemy: terrorists. As enemy of our enemy is our friend, it is just natural that Indonesia and US should become allies in fighting the scourge of terrorism.



LOL, I never think Indonesians would choose people like Amrozi into power, because fundamentalist Muslims do not plan to gain power through elections, but through violence like the what the deceased DI-TII attempted to do.

You keep showing your idiocity and lack of brain. There are no any nation in this world name Jew. Jew = An adherent of Judaism as a religion or culture. The nation which majority Inhabit by jew is Israel.

here is the composition of religious break up of Israel:
Jewish 76.5%, Muslim 15.9%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2003)

Telling Jew as nation is dumber than dumb, its just like saying Indonesia who 90% of the people are muslim as nation of Islam.
Just to temind you, I encounter into this discussion with you to correct your bias against Arab countries, you said they have done little for Indonesia during natural disaster.

Indonesian can use it, but British just put embargo on component & spare part already paralized the function of the equipment. That's the same case on many Indonesian Aircraft bought from US, when the embargo being imposed Indonesia could use as what Indonesian want but later on need to canibalized the other aircraft just to maintain 1 or 3 aircraft could fly, but for how long?

Indonesian already the biggest aid in economic recipient currently without recognizing Israel.
Egypt and Jordan who recognized Israel not good example, now they depend on US aid to sustain their economic development. And apparantly Indonesian goverment disagree with your type of people whether or not recognizing Israel.


Indonesia do not need other to tell us how to fight against terrorism, Indos know dearly how to handle terrorist.


What made you think fundamentalist either Cristian fundamenatlist or Hindu fundamentalist could gain power in Indonesia, Indonesian have done throughly this process since the independent of this country.
Fundamentalist Cristian ambon in RMS already learnt the lesson hardway, trying to achieve their purposes through violence. Communist chinese end their story in the hand of Indonesian.

That is why we need to hedge against possible embargo to protect existing Western-made weapons while diversifying weapons source. How to hedge this risk? I've described it before.



Egypt and Jordan are not good example for choosing to become dependent on US aid instead of uing US aid to develop their own sustainable economy like South Korea and Japan. However, their choice for recognising Israel gave them priceless peace dividends and a secured place on the side of US during war on terror.



Not openly to accomodate Muslim sensitivities. Indonesia invited Israeli Mossad trainers to train special forces during 1970s until 1980s (see Kopassus by Ken Conboy), while during embargo our warplanes can keep flying because Indonesian govt bought spare parts from Israeli sources. Otherwise, none of Indonesia's warplanes could've flied during Ambalat crisis. I think now Indonesia has many secret contacts with Israel, especially in the matters of anti-terrorism.



I agree, eventually Muslim fundamentalists trying to achieve their aims through violence will fail like previous DI-TII as it ran against the fundamental nature of Indonesian people and nation as ascribed by Pancasila.

Israel is a state, moron! The nation is Jew, Jewish. And being a Jew, as a nation, doesn't mean to be an Israeli. It's like being a Javanese doesn't need to be an Indonesian. Can be Australian, Swedish, whatever, clever man! Do you understand what the difference between a nation and a state?

And, indeed, except 1 or 2 countries that has helped us in the past, where are the rest? Whereas most European countries reacted promptly and effectively. Kuwaitis "contributed" fishing boats for Acehnese fishermen and those boats were totally unusable because the boats didn't comply to local circumstances. You don't know about that, right?

And tell me your latest arguments of Indonesia not needing to be more friendly to Israel and the Jewish people, except the historical background and Israeli-Palestinian conflict? I just want to see how clever you are.

And about the Kuwaitis boats, it's just one example. One simple example.

Korps Marinir menggunakan Uzi SMG dan KOSTRAD Galil sniping riflles. Directly from Israel or via AS?

And sorry again, but bagian besar dari bangsa Israel tidak bisa dipercayahi, mereka tidak semua orang jahat, tapi, you can not trust them.....Tapi ini sulit untuk di menerangkan, specially to people who support AS/Israel. Sy tidak bisa menerangkan dan curhat semua krn badan intel dari AS mengintai semua hubungan elektronis, and i don not want to be put on a black list.....

True, by diversifying source of arm procurement will nullify the incapability of Indonesian army if embargo happened. Current Indonesian government well aware of it current policy not only make procurement oh hightech equipment from western allies but also from Soviet and etc. Indonesia just have plan bought Sukhoi from Russian.


It is more Israel interest to have peace with Egypt and Jordan and not vice versa, Israel return part of Sinai to Egypt and part of area near west bank to Jordan to get lasting and guarantee peace toward these 2 countries. Indonesia no need to foolow what Egypt and Jordan did, What land Israel have taken from indonesia and need to return it back to Indonesia?


That's only happened because Indonesia arm force lead by Benny Moerdani, I highly unlikely that's path would ever happened again, Indonesia current economis relationship with arabs countries are growing, beside without need to recognizing Israel, US already come and begging to Indonesia on their knee to tie back military relationship with Indonesian arm force, now they realize the important of Indonesian role on war against terrorism. It is not relationship to Israel make Indonesia become US ally but It is Indonesia strategic condition, demographic situation make US want Indonesia as important ally.
Current Indonesia government staunchly support Palestinian force, you can try to convince people to open diplomatic relationship with Israel. But good luck for that.


As same as like Cristian fundamentalist in Ambon who trying to secede from Indonesia and Poso who slaughter muslim minority there have meet their faith in hand of Indonesian people.

Look idiot buffoon, Jew is person who posses jewish as his/her religion.
Here is parallel analog to make your tiny brain understand:
Jew ----- Muslim,
Jewish ----- Islam,
Israel ------- Saudi Arabia/Pakistan/Malaysia/Indonesia etc
Jew can be any citizen of many country just like muslim/catholic can be any citizen of any countries.


Your bias against Arab countries keep surprising me, Now you belittle they contribution and aid about Aceh tsunami natural disaster. Your tiny brain again babbling out of nothing. It just showing your stupidity I am wonder why Indonesian hire people as stupid as like you as civil servant? No wonder why!
Look here aid package for tsunami:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/dis_tsu_...tal-aid-package

Kuwait gave aid $100 millions, Saudi Arabia gave aid $ 97.5 millions,
Qatar = $25 millions , UAE = $20 millions , Libya = $2 millions, Bahrain = $2 millions.

The generousity of Kuwaiti and Qatari only behind Norwegian and Australian:
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/dis_tsu_...kage-per-capita

Next time don't be so dumb, well dumb sometime ok, but don't be dumber than dumb.

Those people so generous to you, perhaps your lackey mentality only view aid and more aid. Great people will contribute to society or their neighbors. But beggar in the street looking forward for aid. You even forgetting who help and gave aid to you.


You need to raise this issue into Indonesia current government, It is Indonesia strong policy to support Palestinian cause and close to hundred of other countries around the world. Majority of Indonesian including me support my government policy.
People like you will weaken Indonesia from inside, your work, your life and rice serving in your dining table got paid by Indonesian tax payer and national budget but you opposing the policy??

Bull @$$, look at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew

And learn more about the Jew, don't just own a big mouth. Jew is a nation as well as a religion. There is no nation called "Islam" or "Christian", is there?!

And there is this Jewish state called Israel, as well as Muslim states as Iran or Pakistan.

About the list of Aceh contributors.. I don't see any other Arabic countries in the Middle East and North Africa out of six mentioned there, the whole list is populated by other Asian or Western countries. Think twice, stupid head!

I told you, moron, aid to Aceh and Yogya is one of the few examples what the Arabic countries may have contributed to the friendship with Indonesia.

And, by the way, loosing your ground in this argument made your life very difficult, heh? Go ahead with all other arguments you can come with, we will come to the same conclusion.

Oh, don't forget to beg information from the Internet..

Directly from Israel.. until now, Israel maintains an office in Jakarta to manage their weapons trade with Indonesia. Secret relationship between Indonesia and Israel never cease since 1970s.

You god damn idiot, you could not even grab the meaning of Jew, Jewish and Israel.


Only people with weakling mentality and street beggar attitude always looking forward someone else aids. You even forgot who's who have been giving aid to you. your mentality could fit you easily as beggar on the street, like to open your arm and saying like this: mister,..mister,..please mister more money mister. People like your kind famous for that or becoming maid working for this people.


I have proved you have minuscule brain, Qatari and Kuwaiti are the third and fourth generous people giving aid to Indonesia during tsunami disaster. And so far the biggest aid during Jogya earth quake are coming from Arab gulf countries. Majority Indonesia say thanks for that except Catholic like you with beggar attitude and mentality as you just fit as it is.

^ Jeez, you're rude and have serious attitude problem..

I didn't know that how do you know these things mas Pur?



I didn't know about this

Israeli diplomats visit Indonesia


In first official visit to Muslim country in 5 years, Israeli diplomats arrived in Indonesia to attend conference and were greeted with surprising warmth
Roee Nahmias


Two Israeli diplomats who visited the world's largest Muslim country Indonesia this week, were surprised by the warm and friendly welcome they received.


Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign Ministry Amos Nadai and Israeli Ambassador in Bangkok Yael Rubinstein arrived in the country's capital Jakarta to attend a convention organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).


Nadai and Rubinstein are the first official Israeli delegates to arrive in a Muslim country in five years.


"It was amazing to discover that wherever we toured, even in the less developed areas in Indonesia, we were greeted warmly and with smiles. People expressed much appreciation for Israel's abilities," Nadai said.


Despite the fact that Israel and Indonesia have no diplomatic relations, the two arrived to the capital Jakarta to attend the conference sponsored by the Bangkok-based ESCAP organization. Israel was invited to participate in the week-long event as an observer.

"There has been at least one incident in the past in which a Muslim country denied the right to host the conference, in order to evade
inviting Israel," Nadai said. "Here we were greeted warmly and kindly. We were surprised to find out that many people from the private sector are familiar with Israel and appreciate us. We also talked to several doctors who attended conferences in Israel and they, too, were very enthusiastic. I hope and believe that we made good contacts during the conference," Nadai added.

Relations between Indonesia and Israel have had its ups and downs over the last years. Between the years 1998-2000 ties warmed up and an official delegations from Israel visited Indonesia. However, after the intifada broke out in 2000, relations between the countries cooled.

"As far as we're concerned, Indonesia is a progressive and tolerant Muslim country and this is very important for us. If a country like Indonesia expresses itself positively over processes taking place in our region – this could have a significant influence", Nadai concluded.



(04.11.06, 23:22)

^ here's an article describing relationship between Suharto government and Israel in 1994, a bit outdated but describe well the relationship between Indonesia and Israel during New Order. Diplomatic sources indicate Indonesia was greatly helped by Israel in maintaining our American and British-made warplanes during embargo (1999-2005) which keeps our air fleet afloat. During Gus Dur's presidency, he even unsuccessfully tried to establish open diplomatic relationship with Israel. I think today Indonesia still has many secret ties with Israel.

^….For a country there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies but only permanent interests,………… circumstances make friends and enemies…..
(I forgot who said dat sentences)

Kissinger

Indeed, you know very much. Seperti km punya badan intelijen sendiri...
FPI tidak punya keinginan untuk mengunjungi kantor ini?....
Sy perna lihat spanduk dari NAAZI di jalan, do they still exist?

^ Never, FPI only visited nightclubs to extract money, when they dare insulting Gus Dur, they are now under threat of being disbanded by force

There is no Nazi party in Indonesia, those spanduks are just made by people who like the swastika without knowing its political content.

no,sorry, i mean gerakan/kumpulan/organisasi N...... Anti Amerika dan Zionis Israel

Senin, 26 Juni 2006 15:32:00
Kelompok Palestina Bantah Tahan Tentara Israel


Kota Gaza-RoL-- Satu kelompok pejuang Palestina di Jalur Gaza, Senin, membantah laporan media bahwa kelompok itu menyekap seorang prajurit Israel yang hilang selama satu serangan di dalam wilayah Israel, Ahad.

Jurubicara Komte Perlawanan Rakyat (PRC), salah satu kelompok yang melancarkan penyusupan tersebut, menyatakan tak memiliki informasi mengenai prajurit itu.

PRC sebelumnya, menurut laporan, menyatakan dalam percakapan telefon bahwa organisasi tersebut "menahan seorang prajurit Israel, dan menyatakan prajurit itu berada dalam keadaan hidup".

"Kami menahan prajurit tersebut. Ia hidup dan berada dalam kondisi baik," kata utusan kelompok itu --yang tak ingin disebutkan jatidirinya.

Ia tak memberi petunjuk mengenai keberadaan prajurit yang hilang itu, yang diculik selama serangan oleh pejuang Palestina terhadap satu pos militer perbatasan di dekat Jalur Gaza, Ahad. Dua prajurit Israel dan dua aktivis tewas dalam peristiwa tersebut.

PRC, bersama sayap bersenjata gerakan HAMAS --yang berkuasa-- serta kelompok lain yang sebelumnya tak dikenal, Tentara Islam, secara menyatakan bertanggung jawab atas serangan itu.

Israel, Ahad, berikrar akan membalas setiap kerugian yang dialami seorang prajuritnya yang diduga diculik selama serangan gerilyawan Palestina terhadap satu pos terdepan yang mengakibatkan dua prajurit Israel dan dua aktivis tewas.

Itu adalah serangan terbesar di daerah perbatasan rentan sejak Israel dan pemukim Yahudi keluar dari daerah pantai tersebut musim panas lalu, sehingga mengakhiri pendudukan selama 38 tahun.

Menteri Pertahanan Amir Peretz berikrar akan melancarkan pembalasan keras Israel jika tentara yang hilang itu, Gilad Shavit (20), tak dibebaskan tanpa cedera.

"Kami akan melakukan pembalasan terhadap siapa saja yang melukai tentara itu, termasuk pemimpin mereka," kata Peretz kepada wartawan.

Pihak keamanan belakangan menyetujui serangkaian operasi pembalasan terhadap Jalur Gaza tapi setuju untuk menundanya sampai tentara yang hilang tersebut dikembalikan, demikian laporan saluran televisi swasta Channel 10.

Jaket anti-peluru Shavit, yang berlumur darah, ditemukan tak jauh dari tempat serangan dan ribuan orang Israel berkumpul di Tembok Ratapan, Jerusalem Timur, Ahad malam, untuk mendoakan agar ia pulang dalam keadaan selamat.

Sebagai reaksi atas serangan itu, helikopter tempur Apache, tentara dan tank Israel menyerbu ke dalam wilayah Jalur Gaza untuk mencari prajurit yang hilang tersebut dan menyelidiki terowongan yang digunakan oleh para penyerang. reuters/antara/pur




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Tentara Israel hari ini masuk Gaza.......mereka sudah menghancurkan satu jembatan dan powerplant.
I hope the Palestinians will kick the arses of the Israelians..

^ In the case of Gaza, yeap I do support Palestinians' right to resist Israeli incursion into their territory

My goodnes, nanti ada barang di Indonesia yg berlabel ´Made in Israel`.....

Iran science minister arrives in Indonesia

Jakarta, June 25, IRNA

Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad-Mehdi Zahedi arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, on an official five-day visit to meet Indonesian officials.

During the visit, taking place at the invitation of his Indonesian counterpart, Zahedi is scheduled to meet with Vice-President Muhammad Yusuf Kalla, Minister of Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman and Minister of Education Bambang Sudibyo.

The sides will discuss avenues for bolstering bilateral relations in various fields of science and technology.

Zahedi will also visit University of Indonesia (UI) and a university in the city of Yogyakarta. He is to deliver a speech at a meeting with Indonesian scientific and cultural elites.

The Iranian minister will inspect research centers of Jakarta and Bandung cities where he is to hold talks on the two countries' cooperation in the fields of advanced technologies.

U.S. Senate lift curbs on arms sales to RI: FM

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The U.S. Senate has decided to put no restrictions on the sale of military equipment to Indonesia next year, paving the way for a full revival of military ties between the two countries, an official said.

"We just received good news from our embassy in Washington. The U.S. Senate is no longer placing restrictions on the sale of arms to Indonesia in its 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill," Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda told lawmakers during a hearing with the House of Representatives on Monday.

He added that the Senate made the decision when it met on June 29.

Harri Purwanto, the ministry's director for North and Central American affairs, said that last May the U.S. House also did not write any conditions for arms sales to Indonesia into its appropriations bill.

"If the bill becomes law then it means our military relations with the U.S. are really back to normal. The question now is whether we have the funds to buy the equipment or not," he told The Jakarta Post.

A conference committee with representatives from both chambers will reconcile the two versions of the bill before it is sent to the president for signature by the end of the year.

Harri said the bill also specified how much funding the foreign military financing (FMF) program would give Indonesia. The FMF provides money to buy U.S. military equipment. He declined to say how much funding was included in the bill.

A Congressional committee working on the same bill, however, recommended providing US$4.5 million to Indonesia through the FMF program. That would be $3.51 million more than this year's budget, but $2 million less than the Bush administration requested.

The United States imposed restrictions on military sales and cooperation with Indonesia over concerns about human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian armed forces in East Timor in 1991. The U.S. Congress had imposed various restrictions since 1992.

However, the Bush administration considers Indonesia a strategic partner in the fight against terrorism. Last November, the U.S Department of State issued a waiver removing all remaining congressional restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Indonesia.

The Bush administration announced early in May it would provide up to $19 million for the Indonesian military through a new Pentagon program "to build foreign military force capacity". The commander of Kopassus, the Indonesian military's special forces unit, was allowed to participate in the Pentagon's annual Pacific Area Special Operation Conference (PASOC) in April.

In May, the Indonesian military participated for the first time in the Cobra Gold regional military exercise with the United States and other countries.

"The bill also does not question Indonesia's territorial integrity, including a referendum on independence for Papua. The recent discovery of a large arms stash at the house of a deceased Army officer in Ancol also does not affect ties, and as far as I know, the case has not been discussed in the Senate," Hassan said.

More Malaysians may study in Indonesia
25 Jul 2006


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDONESIA may soon be the next preferred education destination for Malaysian students.

The Indonesian Government will begin issuing multiple entry visas for Malaysian students before year end.

At present, Malaysian students are on single entry visas which are renewable yearly. They have to apply for a fresh visa if they go home for holidays and return to Indonesia.

With the multiple entry visa, students can travel to and from Indonesia during their study period.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has agreed that Malaysian students be granted multiple entry visas.

There are currently 2,500 Malaysian students in 13 accredited universities in the republic.

The issue of student visas has been a longstanding problem for Malaysian students in Indonesia for the last 20 years.

Abdullah, who met Susilo at the Istana Negara here, said the Indonesian president had assured that the matter would be settled before the end of the year.

Abdullah also said there was potential that Indonesia could be the preferred education destination for Malaysian students.

On other issues discussed, he said the Malaysian Government had extended its hand in helping to rebuild the homes of Indonesians damaged in the tsunami in West Java early last week.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

and to add that

Indonesia May Become Preferred Destination For Higher Studies

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, July 24 (Bernama) -- Indonesia may become one of the preferred destinations for Malaysian students to pursue higher education abroad, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said Malaysian students, who could not get places in the local institutions of higher learning, could opt to study in the republic.

Indonesia could become a good choice not only for medicine but also other disciplines, he told a news conference after meeting about 150 Malaysian students from Jakarta and Bandung at the Malaysian Embassy here Monday.

About 2,500 Malaysians are currently studying at 13 Indonesian universities recognised by the Public Service Department, especially in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry programmes.

On his meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Monday, Abdullah said Jakarta had agreed to speed up the issuance of the multiple entry visas to facilitate Malaysian students pursuing higher education in the republic.

The present single entry visas have to be renewed every year or each time the students re-enter Indonesia after going back to Malaysia.

Earlier in his speech, Abdullah advised the students to strive for high moral values, be upright and trustworthy besides excelling in their studies.

Also present at the meeting were Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Zainal Abidin Mahamad Zain and Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdiharjo who accompanied Abdullah during his two-day visit which ended Monday.

Indonesia berpeluang jadi anggota tidak tetap DK PBB
Rabu, 06/09/2006

JAKARTA (Bisnis): Indonesia berpeluang besar masuk dalam anggota tidak tetap Dewan Keamanan Perserikatan Bangsa Bangsa (PBB) atas dukungan berbagai negara dan diplomasi pemerintah.

Pernyataan tersebut disampaikan Menteri Luar Negeri (Menlu) Hassan Wirajuda kepada wartawan saat ditanya mengenai peluang Indonesia dalam bursa pecalonan anggota tidak tetap DK PBB di Jakarta, kemarin.

"Peluang pasti besar, kita sudah berupaya melakukan lobi ke berbagai negara anggota PBB", ujarnya.

Pada pertengahan tahun ini, lanjutnya, Indonesia telah mengirimkan sejumlah utusan khusus ke banyak negara untuk berkunjung dan meyakinkan bahwa pencalonan Indonesia pantas untuk didukung.

Menurut dia, Indonesia telah mendapatkan komitmen dari banyak negara yang menyatakan akan mendukung pencalonan Indonesia sebagai anggota tidak tetap DK PBB.

Sejauh ini, Indonesia di mata internasional telah mendapatkan peranan penting dalam menciptakan perdamaian di dunia. Baik itu dalam peace making maupun penjaga perdamaian. "Penciptaan perdamaian itu telah dikenal baik dalam catatan sejarah diplomasi kita", tambahnya.

Contoh pengalaman Indonesia, tuturnya, partisipasi Indonesia dalam menyelesaikan konflik di Kamboja dan di Filipina Selatan pada 1993-1996 melalui proses perundingan antara pejuang Moro dengan pemerintah Filipina.

Selain itu, tambahnya, Indonesia telah berulang kali mengirimkan kontingen perdamaian untuk berpartisipasi dalam pasukan perdamaian internasional, seperti pada 1957 sejumlah 23 batalyon yang berada dalam kerangka misi PBB termasuk Filipina Selatan.

"Belum lagi upaya-upaya kita untuk menciptakan tertib kawasan, misal melalui ASEAN, dalam kerjasama politik dan keamanan ASEAN, sedikit banyak selama 40 tahun terakhir kita telah menikmati perdamaian tidak ada konflik. Ini juga bagian dari kontribusi kita", imbuhnya.

Hal semua menjadi catatan yang layak dan menjadi pertimbangan bagi banyak negara atas potensi Indonesia. "Keaktifan Indonesia dalam menciptakan perdamaian dan keamanan dunia, cukup kuat untuk menjadi alasan mereka memilih kita", katanya.

Hasan saat ditanya mengenai dukungan Korea Selatan pada Indonesia di PBB sebagai akibat dari janji Indonesia mendukung Korsel di pencalonan Sekjen PBB, dia mengatakan kejadiannya tidak bukan seperti itu.

"Tidak demikian black and white artinya Korea Selatan sendiri tidak mudah mengelola pencalonan dua pos penting di PBB dalam waktu bersamaan", tegasnya.

Menurut catatan politik dunia internasional, sejauh ini Indonesia telah mendapatkan dukungan dari sejumlah negara di Asia, seperti Nepal, Vietnam, dan Korea Selatan, yang telah menyatakan dukungannya untuk mengisi satu kursi di anggota tidak tetap DK. Sedangkan pemilihan anggota tidak tetap DK PBB akan dilakukan pada November 2006.

Nuklir Australia

Indonesia tidak keberatan dengan program nuklir Australia karena telah berkomitmen terhadap program non proriferation treaty (NPT) Badan Energi Atom Internasional (IAEA).

"Sepanjang pengembangan teknologi itu digunakan untuk tujuan damai, dengan pengawasan yang ketat dari badan atom, itu tidak menjadi persoalan yang sebenarnya", kata Hasan.

Menurut dia, sejauh ini Australia telah berkomitmen terhadap teknologi nuklir dengan tujuan damai bukan ke militer.

Selain itu, lanjutnya, Australia mempunyai pertimbangan ekonomi dengan pengayaan uranium untuk di ekspor sebagai nilai tambah, dari pada bahan mentahnya. Australia juga mempunyai nilai tambah pada sektor teknologi bagi negara tetangga dan negara sekitar Pasifik. ***

Israel, Indonesia talked over Lebanon

Ehud Olmert told the heads of a U.S. Jewish group that he had direct contact with Indonesian leaders during Israel’s Lebanon war.

The Israeli prime minister met Thursday in Israel with Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrella body for Jewish community relations councils, and Martin Raffel, the group’s associate executive director. Olmert said Indonesian leaders contacted Israel during the war.

He did not divulge details of the conversation, but Israel subsequently dropped objections to Indonesian participation in a peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

Israel has no formal relations with the world’s most populous Muslim nation, but ties have warmed in recent years, and Israel delivered aid during the 2004 tsunami.

Peluang Indonesia dari ASEM dan KTT Non Blok
Oleh Akhmad Syakhroza

Pertemuan ASEM ke-6 di Finlandia ini telah membangun kesepahaman yang kuat antar anggota ASEM. Adanya rasa saling mengakui bahwa Negara Asia dan Eropa saling membutuhkan dalam upaya menciptakan kesejahteraan di kedua benua ini. Ada tiga pilar (1) politik dan perdamaian (2) ekonomi dan kesejahteraan (3) sosial, budaya dan pendidikan yang merupakan pedoman bersama dalam melakukan kerja sama dan dialog, baik yang bersifat bilateral maupun multilateral.

Hasil pengkajian tim bersama ASEM merekomendasikan beberapa bidang yang menjadi fokus program bagi forum ASEM, yaitu: (1) kerjasama energi, (2) pengembangan lingkungan yang berkesinambungan, (3) globalisasi, kompetisi ekonomi dan pendidikan, dan (4) dialog sosial, budaya dan agama. Sampai saat ini pilar politik dan pilar sosial budaya programnya telah terbangun secara baik dan hasilnya sudah nyata, misalnya bagi Indonesia terciptanya perdamaian Aceh, bantuan korban tsunami di Aceh, beasiswa belajar antara lain di negara Korea, Jepang, Jerman, Belanda, dan Perancis.

Di samping kepedulian terhadap pentingnya pengurangan kemiskinan dan peningkatan kesejahteraan; maka efisensi energi, pemeliharaan lingkungan, dan penguatan daya saing merupakan topik hangat yang selalu diangkat oleh para pemimpin ASEM seperti Perdana Menteri Finlandia Matti Vanhanen, Presiden Finlandia Tarja Halonen, Perdana Menteri Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dzung, Presiden Komisi Eropa Jose Manuel Barroso, Presiden Korea Roh Moo Hyun, dan Perdana Men-teri Cina Wen Jiabao.

Dalam deklarasi ASEM 6 di Helsinki ini, secara tegas disepakati bahwa komitmen untuk melakukan program efisiensi energi, pemeliharaan lingkungan, dan penguatan daya saing merupakan agenda kerja utama ASEM ke depan.

Bahkan dalam deklarasi ini diakui bahwa efisiensi energi berkaitan erat dengan perubahan iklim lingkungan dan daya saing. Karena membutuhkan sumber daya yang sangat besar untuk mewujudkan hal ini, maka diperkirakan sebesar US$ 6,3 triliun akan diinvestasikan dalam sektor energi untuk negara-negara ASEM sampai dengan tahun 2030.

Hal ini merupakan tantangan sekaligus peluang bagi negara-negara ASEM untuk bekerja sama mempromosikan pengembangan teknologi yang ramah lingkungan, berkomitmen meningkatkan efisiensi energi melalui pemakaian energi terbarukan renewable energy sesuai dengan kondisi lokal negara masing-masing. Para anggota ASEM diberikan kesempatan untuk menindaklanjuti program efisiensi energi ini.

Presiden SBY yang juga sebagai koordinator negara-negara ASEAN mendapat apresiasi sangat baik dari para pemimpin ASEM. Hal ini terbukti dengan banyaknya pembicaraan bilateral antara SBY dengan pemimpin negara-negara Eropa antara lain: Presiden Perancis, Perdana Menteri Spanyol, Presiden Komisi Eropa, dan Kanselir Jerman.

Kesepahaman KTT Non Blok

Dalam forum ini Presiden RI menggagas model partnership yang bertanggungjawab sehingga terjadi kemitraan yang harmonis dan saling menguntungkan, adanya hak dan tanggung jawab antara negara maju sebagai negara donor dan negara berkembang sebagai penerima pinjaman. Fakta menunjukkan bahwa negara-negara berkembang mengalami kesulitan untuk mengatasi kemiskinan dan kesejahteraan karena besarnya alokasi dana untuk membayar bunga dan pokok pinjaman atau pinjaman yang diterima tidak memadai untuk menggerakkan ekonomi mereka.

Menyikapi hal ini, Presiden SBY mengusulkan agar supaya negara maju mempunyai kewajiban terhadap: pertama, debt relief, agar supaya negara donor bersedia agar supaya pembayaran pinjaman kepada negara donor diperuntukkan kembali kepada negara berkembang untuk menjaga/melestarikan lingkungan, membangun infrastruktur, meningkatkan efisiensi energi, meningkatkan daya saing ekonomi (sesuai dengan deklarasi ASEM 6).

Kedua, foreign direct investment, agar supaya negara-negara maju meningkatkan investasinya tidak saja investasi yang bersifat quick yielding tetapi juga investasi jangka panjang yang berorientasi untuk menstimulan pembangunan sektor riil dan peningkatan daya saing ekonomi negara berkembang; misalnya: bidang kelistrikan, jalan, irigasi, pelabuhan, telekomunikasi, pendidikan, dan kesehatan. Ketiga, transfer of technology, agar supaya negara maju memberikan kesempatan kepada negara berkembang untuk penguasaan dan pengembangan teknologi dengan tetap mengedepankan nilai-nilai hak kekayaan intelektual.

Negara-negara berkembang sebagai penerima pinjaman hendaknya juga memiliki kewajiban. Pertama, good governance, negara-negara berkembang sebagai penerima pinjaman hendaknya meningkatkan transparansi dan akuntabilitas dalam upaya mengurangi korupsi dan KKN, mereformasi birokrasi menuju birokrasi yang responsif, efisien, dan efektif.

Kedua, human capital, negara berkembang berkewajiban untuk meningkatkan kualitas dan produktifitas sumber daya manusianya agar pembangunan ekonominya bisa lebih efektif, kemiskinan bisa lebih cepat di entaskan, dan kesejahteraan dapat ditingkatkan. Ketiga, a climate hospitable to foreign direct investment, negara berkembang berkewajiban untuk meningkatkan iklim investasi yang kompetitif dengan memberikan kepastian hukum dan keamanan yang baik untuk berinvestasi/berusaha.

Keempat, sustainability of our environment, negara-negara berkembang berkewajiban untuk memelihara/melestarikan lingkungannya, menggunakan sumber daya alamnya secara bijaksana untuk kepentingan anak bangsanya ke depan.

Dalam KTT Non Blok 14 ini juga disepakati bahwa agenda kerja para anggota KTT Non Blok ke depan adalah harus berorientasi kepada pengurangan gap kemiskinan dan gap kesejahteraan antara negara-negara maju dan berkembang. Untuk itu, kerjasama dibidang ekonomi, investasi, dan perdagangan global bisa lebih berkeadilan.

Perdamaian di Aceh mendapat apresiasi khusus dari negara-negara anggota ASEM, di sela-sela berlangsungnya KTT , Presiden SBY diminta untuk memberikan kuliah umum di Paasikivi Society pada tanggal 12 September 2006 bertempat di Hotel Kamp, Helsinki, Finlandia.

Judul paper yang yang dibawakan adalah "How to Succeed in Making Peace: the Aceh Experience". Paasikivi Society merupakan sebuah organisasi bergengsi di Helsinki yang para anggotanya terdiri dari para intelektual dan tokoh Masyarakat Finlandia. Pada tanggal 13 September 2006 Presiden SBY memberikan kuliah di Noble Institute, Oslo, Norwegia. Topiknya adalah "Promoting Peace and Conflict Resolution in a Transforming Indonesia."

Diminta untuk memberikan kuliah di Noble Institute adalah suatu proses pengujian bagi Presiden sebagai salah seorang kandidat terkuat untuk mendapatkan hadiah Nobel Perdamaian.

Apabila kita cermati dari deklarasi pertemuan ASEM 6 dan KTT Non Blok 14 di atas, maka terbuka peluang besar bagi Indonesia untuk memperoleh pembiayaan bagi percepatan program Energi Alternatif Nasional khususnya Energi Terbarukan Bio Fuel. Mari kita lihat pertimbangannya: (1) Adanya komitmen bersama para anggota ASEM terhadap program efisiensi energi, pemeliharaan/pelestarian lingkungan, dan peningkatan daya saing ekonomi adalah sangat sesuai dengan program Energi Alternatif Nasional.

Sebagaimana dijelaskan oleh Pemerintah bahwa program energi alternatif nasional khususnya Bio Fuel ini dimaksudkan untuk melakukan efisiensi energi, peningkatan kualitas lingkungan, dan penurunan struktur biaya produksi yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan daya saing ekonomi. (2) Kesepahaman Debt Relief, maka pembayaran pokok pinjaman dan bunga dapat dikompensasikan sebagai pembiayaan program energi alternatif nasional. (3) Alokasi dana sebesar USD 6,3 triliun akan di investasi dalam program efisiensi energi sampai tahun 2030 merupakan sebuah peluang yang sangat potensial bagi pembiayaan program energi alternatif. Sebagai contoh dana yang dibutuhkan untuk investasi program Bio Fuel nasional Rp 100 T sampai dengan tahun 2009.

Selama melakukan perjalanan 10 hari ke ASEM 6 Finlandia, Negara Norwegia, dan KTT Non Blok 14 Kuba, Presiden SBY sudah menandatangani kerjasama ekonomi dengan beberapa negara.

Pertemuan-pertemuan tersebut antara lain: dengan Presiden Equador bersepakat kerja sama di bidang energi dan telekomunikasi. Perdana Menteri Spanyol kerja sama di bidang farmasi, infrastruktur, dan pembiayaan. Perdana Menteri Perancis kerja sama di bidang infrastruktur, pertanian, dan energi. Perdana Menteri Norwegia kerjasama di bidang energi dan kelautan. Presiden Vietnam peningkatan kerja sama di bidang ekonomi dan perdagangan. Presiden Kuba kerja sama di bidang farmasi.

Tindak Lanjut

Tentu hasil dari deklarasi ASEM 6 dan kesepahaman KTT Non Blok 14 serta kerja sama yang telah dilakukan secara langsung oleh Presiden SBY ini harus ditindaklanjuti secara responsif, kreatif, dan terukur oleh para pembantunya dan atau pihak-pihak terkait agar supaya diperoleh hasil yang optimal.

Untuk mendapat perhatian khusus adalah adanya peluang besar mendapatkan pembiayaan untuk program Bio Fuel nasional baik dari sumber dana Debt Relief maupun alokasi dana efisiensi energi ASEM. Bahkan Pemerintah juga bisa mencoba mengupayakan untuk mendapatkan pembiayaan di bidang kelistrikan karena sesuai dengan program deklarasi ASEM dan model debt relief.

Namun demikian, pemerintah juga harus segera memenuhi komitmen kewajibannya yaitu memperbaiki good governance baik public governance maupun corporate governance, meningkatkan transparansi dan akuntabilitas birokrasi, terus memperbaiki iklim investasi yang kompetitif, melestarikan lingkungan, dan menjaga kepastian hukum dan keamanan berinvestasi dan berusaha di Indonesia. Semoga. ***

Penulis adalah Guru Besar Fakultas Ekonomi UI

What's wrong with that? I still have not heard one good rational reason why we should not have a relation with Israel. As for those radical ormas Islam (more like anarchist and anti-Pancasila group), they are a threat to our peace and security. They should treated the same with communist base organizations in the past, with suspicious, especially many of their ideology is to change UUD45 and Pancasila and turned this country into Saudi Arabia.

Purnomor, this is such an interesting thread. I am most surprised to see Indonesia in the Human Rights Council. Could we live up to the expectation?To tell u the truth, I'm pessimistic. No matter how much u and me love this country, we have to admit that we're not exactly the most proficient in the human rights issue. Impotent law, corrupted officials and incompetent enforcement is the daily face of our life.

I have hope, of course, because of this honor given by the world, the Indonesian government could mend their pathetic conscience. But, that's a really slim chance. The bastards are shameless to say the least. Purnomor, I'm counting on people like u to make a significant chance. I AM very proud of u, keep up the good work, okay mate!

^ Thanks, Bhaskara

Do not need to worry about being "good" at human rights. Indonesia is much better in human rights than USA, which invade and torture other people (Iraq & Abu Ghraib) and has a history of genocide against Indians and racial abuse on blacks.

Good news, Indonesia won seat in UN Security Council

I love my country....HIDUP INDONESIA!!!

what's the benefit of being a UN Security Council?

We will have power to influence UN Security Council Resolutions, such as concerning the Lebanon issue.

Thai new prime minister to visit Indonesia

The newly appointed Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will pay one-day courtesy visit to Indonesia Saturday, Indonesian Presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal announced here Friday.

During his visit, Chulanont is going to have face-to-face talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace.

"On Oct. 21, the president is to accept a courtesy visit of Chulannt", said Dino, "the visit is in an effort of self introduction of the Thai new Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont."

When asked whether Indonesia agreed with the change of a government through a coup, the spokesman said, "We give an acknowledgement only to state, so we do not have to be in the position whether to acknowledge each of the government."

Dino said that the president has sent a letter, congratulating the prime minister for his appointment on Oct. 11 and expecting the restoration of democracy to be immediately carried out in the country by establishing a general election.

The government of Thailand has announced that the general election to be held in October 2007, according to the spokesman.

Chulanont was appointed to be Thai prime minister after the stepping down of the former prime minister Thaksin Sinawatra during a military coup.

Source: Xinhua

Thailand and Indonesia will jointly push for cooperation in several fields



Thailand and Indonesia have agreed to step up cooperation in various fields, particularly in energy and agriculture.

The cooperation was discussed at a meeting yesterday between the Thai and Indonesian delegations led by Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono respectively. The Thai Prime Minister paid a one-day visit to Indonesia on the fourth leg of his ASEAN tour that already took him to Laos (on Oct 14), Cambodia (on Oct 15) and Malaysia (Oct 18).

General Surayud said after the meeting that the Thai Ministry of Energy is considering increasing its investment in Indonesia in the near future. In the field of agriculture, Indonesia is eager to learn from Thailand's experience while Thailand is interested in the Indonesian oil palm strain which is more productive than the Thai seedlings. In fisheries, both sides agreed to enter more negotiations to reach concrete cooperation while preventive measures against bird flu will be discussed between officials of both sides.

As for cooperation under the ASEAN framework, the two leaders discussed ways to futher develop cooperation among Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia which had been stagnant due to the unrest problem in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand. The two leaders agreed to jointly work towards job creation and economic expansion in the three southern border provinces, to facilitate future regional growth. Both were positive that the southern unrest would die down shortly.

In terms of politics, General Surayud said he had explained to the Indonesian President the government's political steps towards democracy, the protection of civil rights, press freedom and recent relaxation of Martial Law regulations allowing political gathering by public members.

He said however that the government is still unable to lift the Martial Law due to an underground movement in the northern and northeastern parts of Thailand. But he mentioned that the Law will be lifted once the situation has developed positively.

I hope we could build more understanding relationship with our ASEAN friends....

Bali break for deposed Thai PM
15/11/2006 10:56 - (SA)

Indonesia - Deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Wednesday for a holiday.

Thaksin, who was shopping in Hong Kong with his wife on Tuesday, was whisked at the airport to a limousine and left in a convoy of cars without speaking to waiting reporters.

The convoy headed for the luxury Sheraton resort in the tourist enclave of Nusa Dua south of the airport. His plans were not immediately confirmed, although his lawyer said in Bangkok that he was on holidays.

"He will be there for vacation for about five or even seven days," Noppadol Pattama told AFP.

He could not say whether Thaksin's wife, Pojaman, would be staying there with the fallen premier to celebrate her birthday on November 22.

After leaving Bali, Thaksin planned to return to China or another nearby nation, Noppadol said.

Thaksin was in New York when the coup happened, and then flew into self-imposed exile in London where he has a residence.

The former premier has been staying in China this month.

Military-backed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanond said last week that Thaksin should return to Thailand only after elections which have been promised for late next year.

Thailand has been under martial law since the September 19 coup. The junta has been reluctant to lift it, despite international pressure, for fear that Thaksin's supporters could start an anti-coup movement.

Indonesian leader on trade trip meets Japanese Emperor

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 27-Nov-2006 14:47 hrs


Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (L), is greeted by Japan's Emperor Akihito © and Empress Michiko upon arrival for a welcoming ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. During Yudhoyono's four day visit, he is expected to sign off on the framework for a trade deal that could let Indonesians work in Japan and reach an agreement on liberalizing bilateral trade.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has started a visit to Japan by meeting Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who expressed sympathy to victims of natural disasters in his country.

Yudhoyono, who arrived here late Sunday on a four-day trip, visited the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo with his wife, Kristiani, following a welcome ceremony.

"It was another hard year this year as an earthquake and tsunami occurred," Akihito told the Indonesian leader, according to a spokesman for the Imperial Household Agency.

"I was very worried," Akihito said.

A May 27 earthquake in Java killed around 6,000 people and destroyed 300,000 homes. In July, an earthquake-triggered tsunami struck the south Java coast, killing more than 600 people.

Indonesia was also the nation worst hit by the earthquake-triggered Asian tsunami in December 2004, which killed some 168,000 people in Aceh province.

"I would like to deliver Your Majesty's warm message of sympathy to people there without any delay," Yudhoyono replied, according to the palace spokesman.

The Indonesian leader will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday as Yudhoyono is expected to sign off on the framework for a free trade deal.

Abe, in return, is expected to seek Indonesia's assistance in supplying natural gas and in pressuring North Korea to halt its nuclear programme and over Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese citizens. — AFP

Abe to meet Yudhoyono amid expectations for free-trade deal

TOKYO (AP): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was slated to meet visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Tokyo on Tuesday amid expectations that the two countries willagree on the broad outlines of a free-trade deal.

Tokyo and Jakarta began free trade talks in July 2005 and officials have said the two countries hope to reach an agreement in principle during Yudhoyono's four-day visit to Japan.

The two leaders were expected to sign a joint statement following their summit meeting. The statement's details were not immediately available.

Yudhoyono, who arrived in Japan on Sunday, met with Emperor Akihito the following day and is slated to receive an honorary doctorate from Japan's prestigious Keio University during hisstay.

Japan is Indonesia's largest trade partner for both exportsand imports. Tokyo already has free trade deals with several countries, including Singapore, Mexico and Malaysia.

Japan relies on Indonesia for about one-third of its naturalgas supply, and a free trade agreement with Indonesia, a country with abundant energy resources, could ensure a stable supply of energy for Japan. (**)

Arms deals expected as Indonesian, Russian presidents meet

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 1-Dec-2006 17:53 hrs



Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono © inspects an honour guard upon his arrival at the government airport Vnukovo II in Moscow, November 2006. Russian arms sales to Indonesia are to top the agenda at talks in Moscow between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Russian arms sales to Indonesia are to top the agenda at talks in Moscow between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

"We had mostly Soviet weapons in the 1960s. Now we want to have more Russian weapons again," a top Indonesian defence ministry official, Shafri Shamsudin, told the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily in an interview published on Friday.

Indonesia is planning to buy Sukhoi fighter jets, submarines, armoured personnel carriers and military helicopters, Shamsudin said, adding that "new formulas" for financing the deal will be discussed.

"The priority in negotiations will be questions of increasing the turnover and diversification of trade cooperation," a Kremlin official said ahead of the Yudhoyono-Putin talks.

Trade turnover between the two countries rose from 366.3 million dollars (276 million euros) in 2004 to 551.2 million dollars in 2005 and amounted to 300.9 million dollars in the first half of 2006, the official said.

Ten documents are set to be signed during Yudhoyono's visit, the Kremlin official said, including for cooperation in nuclear energy, space technology, arms sales and tourism.

Indonesia is looking to build its first nuclear power plant amid growing power shortages in the country, reviving plans that were shelved in 1997 in the wave of mounting public opposition.

The Kommersant daily cited officials as saying that Indonesia will be offered one billion billion dollars (755 million euros) in credit to buy Russian arms but wants to make purchases of three billion dollars.

"The most important document is set to be an agreement on the development of military technical cooperation for 2007-2010," Kommersant said, adding that Indonesia was particularly interested in buying submarines.

Yudhoyono was impressed by the Russian military technology he saw on display at the Indo Defence 2006 arms fair that took place in Jakarta last week, Kommersant said.

"We have agreed that the main weaponry system from Russia is needed, especially strike force" equipment for Indonesia's army, navy and air force," Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono told reporters last month.

Indonesia, once a major purchaser of Soviet weaponry, bought fighter jets, military helicopters, armoured personnel carriers and Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia in 2003, Kommersant added.

Indonesia was forced to look for new arms suppliers after Washington imposed restrictions on military sales over concerns about rights abuses committed by Indonesian forces in East Timor in 1991.

Indonesia and Russia will also sign an agreement for Russian energy firms Gazprom and Lukoil to take part in oil and gas projects on the island of Borneo, Kommersant said.

Yudhoyono has already visited the northern Russian city of Saint Petersburg during his visit to Russia and on Friday is set to address a business forum and receive an honorary diploma from a Russian foreign ministry academy. — AFP

South Korean president arrives in Indonesia for three-day visit

SEOUL, South Korea (AP): South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun arrived in Indonesia on Sunday on the first leg of a tour that will take him to Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, with the North Korean nuclear standoff likely to dominate meetings.

Roh went directly to the national Kalibata Hero Cemetery in the south of the capital, Jakarta, to lay a wreath to fallen soldiers.

He will be in Indonesia through Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Monday.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Desra Percaya, said last week the standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program will be high on the agenda.

Indonesia and North Korea have historical ties, and the Indonesian leader has expressed interest in playing a mediating role in the nuclear dispute, offering to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and Roh.

That effort was put on hold after Pyongyang sparked an international outcry by firing seven missiles in July and then testing a nuclear bomb three months later.

The two leaders are also expected to sign bilateral treaties on nuclear energy, tourism, forestation and anti-corruption.

Roh is then set to travel to Australia to hold talks with Prime Minister John Howard, and to New Zealand, where he will meet Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Roh is expected to travel to the Philippines on the last stretch of his 11-day trip to attend the annual "ASEAN-plus-3'' summits that involve the 10 ASEAN countries plus South Korea, China and Japan.

Congrats Indonesia for getting a seat in UN Security Council