Salim Osman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hopes to persuade United States legislators to end a ban on selling military equipment to Indonesia on his first trip to Washington this week.
The embargo was imposed in 1991 because of the country's 'poor human rights record'.
The Indonesian President will also seek to strengthen political and economic ties with the US.
His two-week trip, which begins tomorrow, will also see him make stops in Japan and Vietnam, in a bid to boost Indonesia's ties with other countries.
In Washington, Dr Yudhoyono will hold talks with President George W. Bush, and have separate meetings with Vice-President Dick Cheney and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Indonesian presidential aide Dino Patti Djalal said a joint statement will be issued after the talks between the presidents.
Dr Yudhoyono, a retired four-star general who received military training in the US, will push for the resumption of full military ties.
Earlier this month, US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said in Jakarta that Indonesia would not enjoy fuller military ties before accounting for violence in East Timor in 1999. That was the year the territory voted to break away from Indonesian rule.
His statement was a blow to Indonesia, which expected a full resumption of military ties following America's decision to resume the International Military Education and Training programme with Indonesia in February.
Mr Zoellick also said that the killers of two American teachers in Papua in 2002 had to be brought to justice.
Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono said over the weekend that some US congressmen will continue pushing Indonesia to ensure justice in relation to both the East Timor and Papua cases. He added that the US government has no problems with the issue.
He said that Congress is 'very influential' in US government decision making, and was 'being influenced by the media and non- governmental organisations'.
The Indonesian President, who will be accompanied by a business delegation, will also meet the CEOs of giant US companies, including Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Newmont and Philip Morris.
Last week, issues that could possibly hamper better economic ties with the US were being cleared before his visit.
Chief among them was the decision to drop a US$130 million (S$217 million) lawsuit against Newmont over Jakarta's allegations that the US company poisoned a bay near a mine in Sulawesi.
Indonesia also indicated on Friday that state-owned oil-and-gas company Pertamina may agree to extend a contract with US oil giant ExxonMobil beyond 2010 to develop the Cepu oil and gas block in Java.
Government officials said a contract extension was necessary to create a conducive investment climate and to boost the country's declining oil output.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian President's trip to Japan on May 31 is expected to come up with a number of action plans.
The plans would be aimed at improving the business climate in Indonesia, and boosting trade and investment activities between the two countries.
He will also seek ways to start negotiations on the planned economic partnership agreement, which also covers the free trade area scheme.