Jakarta – General Endriartono Sutarto, Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI), has stated that reforms carried out by the TNI were not to please the United States, nor the US government or Congress.

"The interest is the national interest," stated Sutarto after attending a limited coordination meeting at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs on Monday afternoon (02/01).

The objective of the reforms, said the TNI Commander, was how to position TNI as being more professional. Because this is the wish of the public, "And this is what we will do," added Sutarto.

However, if what had been carried out by the TNI made the US happy and this led to the lifting of the military embargo, then according to the TNI Commander, this was the right of the US itself. "Please. We're quite happy. But, this has nothing to do with what we're carrying out," stated Sutarto.

The TNI Commander made this statement in response to the plan of the US foreign minister, Condoleeze Rice, to visit Indonesia.

Sutarto said he hoped that the TNI budget would be adequate to meet the needs of the TNI primary weapon systems equipment. "(The budget) is to meet our equipment needs and to obtain spare parts, most of which come from the US," said the TNI Commander. (Fanny Febiana-Tempo News Room)