Remarks with Indonesian Coordinating Minister For Political And Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Secretary Colin L. Powell Jakarta, Indonesia August 2, 2002
MINISTER YUDHOYONO: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just completed our meeting with Secretary Powell, and we shared ideas and discussed matters related to the national security of Indonesia, among other things. On the topic of military-to-military relations with the U.S., including police cooperation, we also discussed the Indonesian policy and strategy in dealing with internal security affairs, mainly our actions in solving problems in Aceh, in Papua, and in Maluku (Moluccas). And we also discussed international cooperation in combating terrorism. So, I’ll be glad to present Mr. Powell to take your questions regarding the topics that we have discussed. SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr.
Minister. As the Minister said, we just had an excellent series of
discussions with various officials involved in national security matters
here in Indonesia. I was pleased to be able to present them with the ideas
that we have as well as initiatives we have to move forward. One of note
is that we are now pushing for International Military Education and
Training to begin the IMET program, and other fellowship programs which
will allow us to help the Indonesian Armed Forces, the TNI, improve their
capability, improve their standards – their standards of military
performance as well as their standards of performance as a military
organization in a democratic system. The resumption of IMET – when we are
able to get it all worked out – and these other programs are really just a
beginning. Much more will have to happen in the months ahead as we watch
the performance of the TNI, and as we make sure that problems that existed
in the past, where accountability has still to be placed, will be dealt
with and there will be accountability. We will measure this, and this will
assist us in taking the case for further support to our Congress. So, this
is just a beginning, and there are many stops along the way until we get
to a full resumption of military-to-military activities and
cooperation. I would like to thank the Minister and his colleagues for extending this opportunity for me to be here and to learn about what is happening in Indonesia with respect to security, to pledge our further cooperation, and to let the Minister and his colleagues know of America’s determination to work with them in the campaign against terrorism, assisting Indonesia in dealing with the threats that it faces. I look forward to my next visit to Indonesia. This one has been much too short. Thank you. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I would like to ask
if you raised the issues of Mr. Abubakar Basyir and also Mr. Thalib. Mr.
Basyir is purported to be the leader of Jemaah Islamiah, and yet he not
only is free, but I believe the Vice President had tea with him recently.
Mr. Thalib, his trial has been postponed, and to the Minister, I would ask
also whether this matter was raised and why these gentlemen remain
free. SECRETARY POWELL: We didn’t go into specific
cases. We were talking about programs that are under way. There were one
or two specific items that were mentioned that I think would be best to
keep in the channel in which they were mentioned. I don’t know if the
Minister wishes to add anything to that or not. If not, I will take the
next question. (inaudible) Yes, hang on a minute. COORDINATING MINISTER YUDHOYONO: Actually, our
system of cooperation is working well, and he will not of course discuss
the specific issues. That is handled properly by our two agencies –
Intelligence, Police – and other agencies, who are working together in
combating terrorism. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary? SECRETARY POWELL: Yes? QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, earlier you mentioned
that you are pretty satisfied with (inaudible) Indonesia’s efforts to
combat terrorism. But, what is your optimism based on? And the second
question is: when you were in Singapore, you said that you were going to
bring to President Megawati some initiatives and some ideas. Could you
expound on that, please? Thank you. SECRETARY: We’ve given out a fact sheet that I
think should be available to press now, of the various items that I have
presented to President Megawati in the course of the day. We exchanged
views with President Megawati and other members of her administration on
the transformation efforts that are underway, on the economic development
efforts that are underway, on access to international financing -- a full
range of issues that went beyond just military-to-military and
counterterrorism. The programs that are contained in the fact sheet that
will be provided to you, if you don’t have it ready, amount to close to 50
million dollars over a multi-year period. This is an expression of our
support for the efforts of the Indonesian government. The reason I am
optimistic and was positive about the support that Indonesia is giving to
the counterterrorism effort comes from the information I have and the
briefings I receive, the cooperation that Indonesia has shown in a number
of areas, working with us, their support of our efforts in Brunei earlier
this week to come up with a declaration on counterterrorism, and just an
exchange of views that suggest that Indonesia understands very well that
terrorism is a threat to all of us. It has to be dealt with on a regional
basis as well as on an international basis, and we have the commitment of
President Megawati and her government to work with us in this campaign
against terrorism, which is a threat to all civilized, democratic nations.
Thank you. Released on August 2, 2002 | |||||