Jakarta – Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab claimed here on Monday that the United States government under President George W. Bush had loosened its military embargo on Jakarta. Speaking at a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I for defense and information affairs, Alwi said Bush had adopted the policy of loosening the embargo, except on some combat weapons, Antara reported.

He said the easing of the embargo included permitting Indonesia to purchase spare parts for its C-130 transport aircraft, either from the US or a third party. "The spare parts for the C-130 aircraft ... have been exempted from the embargo," he said. The US unilaterally suspended military relations with Indonesia on September 9, 1999.

The foreign ministry said the restoration of military-to-military contact was reflected in the visit by a US warship in May last year to carry out a humanitarian mission in West Java, through a program called Cooperation Afloat, Readiness and Training. The program covered assistance in medicine, cattle breeding and infrastructure development.

Alwi also said that the military embargo had not only been adopted by the US administration, but also by the US Congress. "In connection with the military embargo, there has been an intense effort to approach the two bodies," he said. The minister testified that he had met with groups in the US administration and Congress, as well as other sympathetic parties, to urge the loosening of the military embargo on Indonesia.