Saudi Explores Defense Industry Coop With Indonesia

Jakarta, Jan 23 (Antara) - The government of Saudi Arabia is exploring the possibilities of cooperation in the field of defense with Indonesia. "We have offered an option of joint investment for manufacturing combat vehicles to the Saudi Deputy Defense Minister," Deputy Defense Minister Sjafire Samsoeddin stated after meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Salman bin Sultan Abdul Aziz al Saud at the Defense Ministry here on Thursday. He emphasized that two important things have been agreed upon during the meeting. These include the need to modernize our Muslim soldiers` capabilities and boost industrial cooperation. "He was reviewing the Anoa combat vehicle used by the Kopassus (Indonesia`s army special force). This was the preliminary visit since 1950, by a Saudi Deputy Defense Minister representing that country`s Defense Ministry," Sjafrie noted. The Saudi deputy minister was scheduled to inspect the TNI (Indonesian military) main military hardware such as CN 235 aircraft, CN 295 aircraft, and Bell 412 helicopter. Sjafrie explained that the Saudi government has agreed to impart Arabic language training assistance to prepare the Indonesian soldiers who will be assigned for the UN mission in Lebanon. The training will be held at the language center at Shanti Darman, in Sentul, West Java. He remarked that the Saudi minister will see the Anoa vehicle, besides inspecting the Indonesian army special force at the Kopassus headquarters and the static show of the CN 235, CN295, and Bell 412, which have so far been used by the Indonesian Air Force. As a gesture to mark the start of the cooperation between the two nations, Sjafrie symbolically handed over a SS2 assault rifle manufactured by the country`s military industry, Pindad, which has so far been used by the TNI soldiers after signing a defense cooperation agreement. Sjafrie added that for the present and the future, the Saudi minister has offered an opportunity for cooperation in the defense industry. The two deputy ministers agreed to maintain relations in the field of defense activities between the two countries. "We have also consented to a mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of defense between the two countries, including a joint exercise conducted by the Kopassus and the Saudi Special Force," he reported. The Indonesian and Saudi governments have also agreed to work in tandem to boost their professional capabilities. Sjafrie added that the two countries have agreed to impart joint counter-terrorism training to the special forces of the two countries in an effort to overcome international terrorism. "I need to emphasize that the two deputy ministers agreed to the fact that international terrorism threats must not be associated with ideology and Islam, as religions do not preach violence and hence, we agreed to fight international terrorism," he remarked.