Defence Minister to Visit Indonesia

The Minister for Defence, John Moore, will visit Indonesia from 26-28 November, for annual counterpart discussions with Indonesia’s Defence Minister, General Wiranto.

This will be Mr Moore’s first visit to Indonesia as Defence Minister, and is part of the regular cycle of consultations that Australia conducts with Indonesia on defence and security issues.

He and General Wiranto will discuss a range of topics of mutual interest to both nations, including the Australian-Indonesian defence relationship, regional cooperation and defence reform. A meeting between Mr Moore and Indonesian President Habibie is also scheduled.

"Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is important, and continues to grow in strength and diversity," Mr Moore said. "The relationship between our defence forces is a key component of that broader dialogue."

The Minister said that he was looking forward to his meeting with General Wiranto as an important opportunity to express Australia’s support for the reform process within Indonesia’s military.

"Continuing the relationship between the Australian and Indonesian military is the best way to assist the reform process within ABRI," Mr Moore said.

The fourth annual Australia-Indonesia Defence Minister’s Meeting will take place in Surabaya on 27 November 1998.

The meeting signifies the culmination of a series of working level and policy meetings designed to shape bilateral relations between Australia and Indonesia.

The importance Australia places upon its defence relationship with Indonesia has been affirmed in the 1995 Australia-Indonesia Agreement on Maintaining Security, the Future Directions Paper of November 1996, and the Government’s Strategic Policy 1997 which recognises Indonesia as our most important strategic relationship in Southeast Asia.