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Gates vows support for US military sales to Indonesia
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates pledged strong US support Monday for sales of transport aircraft and maritime systems to the Indonesian military.
Gates, who arrived here from Australia, acknowledged that the US bureacracy had previously thrown up hurdles to prompt sales of spare parts for Indonesia’s F-16s and C-130s airplanes. “We clearly have problems with the administration of our foreign military sales in an efficient and prompt manner,” he said after talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“We are working on this with the State Department to try to simplify the bureaucracy.” “One of the last things I said to the president in our meeting is that we would work with them to help facilitate whatever procurement or upgrade or refurbishment” they needed, he added. Gates pressed for expanded exchanges and training to cement military ties that were renewed in 2005 after a break of 13 years following the Indonesian military’s bloody crackdown on pro-independence protesters in East Timor.
The Pentagon also is interested in selling Indonesia more F-16 fighter aircraft, C-130 transport planes and helicopters as well as spare parts for its existing US-made aircraft, US defence officials said. Gates met with Yudhoyono and Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, and also spoke to the Indonesian Council on World Affairs during his one-day visit.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates pledged strong US support Monday for sales of transport aircraft and maritime systems to the Indonesian military.
Gates, who arrived here from Australia, acknowledged that the US bureacracy had previously thrown up hurdles to prompt sales of spare parts for Indonesia’s F-16s and C-130s airplanes. “We clearly have problems with the administration of our foreign military sales in an efficient and prompt manner,” he said after talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“We are working on this with the State Department to try to simplify the bureaucracy.” “One of the last things I said to the president in our meeting is that we would work with them to help facilitate whatever procurement or upgrade or refurbishment” they needed, he added. Gates pressed for expanded exchanges and training to cement military ties that were renewed in 2005 after a break of 13 years following the Indonesian military’s bloody crackdown on pro-independence protesters in East Timor.
The Pentagon also is interested in selling Indonesia more F-16 fighter aircraft, C-130 transport planes and helicopters as well as spare parts for its existing US-made aircraft, US defence officials said. Gates met with Yudhoyono and Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono, and also spoke to the Indonesian Council on World Affairs during his one-day visit.
Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3