Abdul Khalik, Ottawa/Jakarta – Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda will visit the United States this week, where he is expected to talk up Indonesia's improved human rights record and seek assurances on the supply of military equipment from the US, a senior official at the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
The director for North and Central American affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Harri Purwanto, said the visit was part of efforts to boost Indonesia's military capability by capitalizing on Jakarta's improved military ties with the US
"Pak Hassan will hold official talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during his visit. We hope Indonesia will benefit from improved relations and can improve its military capacity building and supply of military equipment from the US," he told The Jakarta Post from Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday.
He said the visit also would strengthen the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the US by defining common interests and working toward them.
The United States imposed restrictions on military sales and cooperation with Indonesia over concerns about rights abuses committed by the Indonesian armed forces in Timor Leste (formerly East Timor) in 1991. The US Congress imposed various restrictions on military ties with Indonesia since 1992.
The ban forced Indonesia to look for new arms suppliers and the country purchased four Sukhoi jets from Russia last year, and also has bought military equipment from "gray markets".
However, considering Indonesia is a strategic partner in the war against terrorism, last November the US State Department issued a waiver removing all remaining congressional restrictions on US military assistance to Indonesia.
In February, the Bush administration proposed an increase in foreign military financing for Indonesia.
Two months ago, Rice said during a visit to Jakarta that Indonesia had made progress in combating military corruption. As part of these closer ties, a senior Indonesian Military delegation was dispatched to Washington to discuss defense and security.
Also, Indonesia was recently voted onto the newly established UN Human Rights Council, with the country claiming its membership was proof the international community recognized its progress in protecting human rights.
But for some in Indonesia, the Americans are not moving quickly enough. On April 9, known arms suppliers for the Indonesian Military and two Indonesian Air Force officers were arrested by the FBI when they allegedly tried to make an illegal US$40 million arms purchase from an unnamed US company.
The subsequent indictment said the group went to Honolulu to buy 245 air-to-air Sidewinder missiles, 882 Heckler & Koch MP5 guns, 880 HK 9mm handguns, 16 HK sniper rifles, 5,000 rounds of ammunition and an aviation radar system.
Harri said that besides bilateral issues, such as trade and cooperation in fighting terrorism, Hassan and Rice also would discuss global and regional issues, including the US role in Asia and the Pacific.
Hassan is scheduled to visit Canada, the US and Qatar during his trip from May 16-25. He will arrive in Ottawa on May 17 before leaving for Washington the following day.
In Canada, Hassan will meet with his Canadian counterpart Peter Mackay, as well as leaders of the Canadian senate and parliament, to discuss bilateral trade and political ties between the two countries.