Megawati talks arms with Putin
April 21, 2003
[Putin, from the outset, said the war in Iraq was a "political mistake". As he is an ex KGB officer, one presumes he has a good handle on intelligence matters. The KGB were always able to run rings around their western counterparts for some reason. It's only communism itself that had them beat. Anyhow, here is some "world peace being strengthened" news. Looks like the USA will need some more arms now too I suppose.]
INDONESIA President Megawati Sukarnoputri has met Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for talks focusing on major arms sales, as Jakarta sought to revive a Soviet-era relationship in the face of growing distance with Washington.
"The situation in Indonesia, including the state of the economy, has improved recently - this gives grounds for developing our relations in different areas," Putin was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
"The Indonesian government today is working towards strengthening world peace," he said.
Talks between the two leaders were due to focus on arms deals, and also touch on Iraq, North Korea, the Middle East and the fight against terrorism, officials said.
Indonesia has already signed a preliminary contract with Russia's state-owned Posoboronexport for four Russian Sukhoi fighter planes worth between $US100 ($164) and $US120 million ($196.2 million), Russia's daily Kommersant said.
Megawati is expected to sign a contract sealing the deal during her five-day Moscow visit, which ends on Thursday.
The Indonesian air force chief said in July that just 30 of his 89 warplanes were operational, partly because of the embargo that the United States refuses to lift until Indonesia accounts for its military's backing of militia violence in East Timor in 1999.
Relations between Jakarta and Washington have sunk further following the US-led war in Iraq - a war fiercely opposed by Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country.
Megawati is also due to hold talks on trade and space cooperation during her Moscow visit.
news.com.au |
