RI, LEBANESE MILITARY TO STEP UP COOPERATION

Beirut, April 20 (ANTARA) -- The Indonesian and Lebanese navies agreed to increase cooperation not only in maintaining peace under the auspices of the United Nations in Southern Lebanon but in the Middle East as well.

Lebanese Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Ali El Moallem said in Beirut Friday night that Indonesia's participation in the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), could serve as a milestone in increasing and expanding military cooperation between the two countries in the coming years.
On the sidelines of a cocktail party of the Indonesian warship KRI Diponegoro-365 at Beyrouth Port he said the Indonesian navy's participation in the MTF of UNIFIL would greatly contribute to security in the territorial waters of Lebanon which had often been used for arms smuggling and other maritime offenses.
Indonesia's participation in MTF of UNIFIL will also become a means of exchange in experience, education and training, to boost the capabilities and professionalism of the navies of the two countries.
He also said that under the cooperation, it is also expected that security could also be maintained and promoted with other countries in the Middle East.
KRI Diponegoro-365 is an Indonesian Maritime Task Force of the Garuda Contengent Konga) XXVIII-A, joined in the MTF of UNIFIL along with a number of other countries like Germany, France, and Belgium.
The SIGMA corvette arrived at Beyrouth Port on April 16, 2009, and on April 19 will proceed to the area of oprations.
Earlier in Beirut, Moallem also received a courtesy call of Indonesia's Eastern Armada Chief Commodore Lili Suparmono to discuss increased and expanded cooperation between the two sides.