The delegations of the Republic of Indonesia and the United States of America, headed respectively by Director-General for Defense Strategy, Major General Dadi Susanto and Mr. James Shinn, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, held the fifth Indonesia-United States Security Dialogue (The Dialogue) in Jakarta, 18-19 April 2007.

The Dialogue was established by President George W. Bush and President Megawati Soekarnoputri during their meeting on September 19, 2001 in Washington D.C. both delegations recalled the Joint Statements between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President George W. Bush in their meetings in Washington D.C on May 25, 2005 as well as in Bogor on November 20, 2006, in which the two Presidents pledged to make the bilateral military ties sustainable and mutually beneficial in the support of peace, democracy, and stability.

In his opening statement, Major General Dadi Susanto welcomed the Indonesia-U.S. Security Dialogue V as showing the improvement of the cooperation between the two countries in the military field. Major General Dadi Susanto stated that strengthening bilateral cooperation in the future, especially in the bilateral defense relationship, would provide common understanding and approaches in dealing with regional challenges and international security issues.

Mr. Jim Shinn, Head of the U.S. delegation, welcomed the occasion of this fifth Indonesia-U.S. Security Dialogue and noted that much progress had been made in the U.S.-Indonesia security relationship since the last IUSSD, held in Washington D.C., in April 2006. He noted that the United States and Indonesia, as two of the world’s largest democracies and sharing common democratic values, also shared many common security interests.

Both delegations reviewed the increasingly robust bilateral relationship between Indonesia and the United States. They underscored the meeting of Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Vice President Richard B. Cheney on September 26, 2006 in Washington D.C., where the two acknowledged the importance of a strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Indonesia. They also underlined the meeting of Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Secretary of State Ms. Condoleezza Rice on March 22, 2007 in Washington D.C. in which the two Ministers highlighted the increasing strategic partnership of the two countries.

The delegations stressed the series of developments since the last Dialogue, which had advanced the normalization of military relations between the two countries, including the provision of Foreign Military Financing (FMF), the export of the full range of defense articles to Indonesia and the continuing participation of Indonesian Military Officers in the International Military and Education Training (IMET) Programs.

Both delegations expressed their determination that the lifting of the restrictions on security assistance and on the full range of defense articles and services to Indonesia and the participation of Indonesian military officers in the IMET programs would be sustained in order to enhance the professionalism of the Indonesian military in accordance with the principles of a democratic state and in order to promote the attainment of each nation’s interests domestically and the shared aspiration of a peaceful, stable and vibrant region.

The delegations reaffirmed the importance of an increased strategic partnership between Indonesia and the United States. Such a partnership increased the significance of the Dialogue as a forum to discuss a broad range of security issues central to both countries and to explore options for policy recommendations to the respective governments, including options for confidence-building measures, enhanced civil-military relations, intensified regional peace and stability cooperation and further bilateral defense cooperation.

In order to contribute to the concept of strategic partnership into action programs, the two delegations agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a plan of actions, additional tailored assistance programs and a potential Defense Cooperation Agreement. The two delegations also discussed ways in which to further the new and revitalized IUSSD. The Dialogue shared views on the need of the IUSSD to continue to discuss broader approaches beyond military means to attain comprehensive security.

The fifth Dialogue included presentations by both delegations on certain aspects of regional and global security issues, national security interests and discussions on next steps for the Dialogue. The U.S. delegation’s presentations addressed Iraq and the U.S. Global Strategy for Combating Terrorism, U.S. Maritime Security Cooperation and Transnational Crimes, U.S. Accountability and Transparency during Combat Operations and Update on Indonesia-Hawaii Partnership. The Indonesian delegation’s presentations addressed issues on Engaging Community Support to Counter Incitement to Terrorism, the Role of Indonesia in the World Today, the involvement of the Indonesian Peacekeeping Forces under the United Nations programs, the ASEAN Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and Defense Resource Management Improvement. In enhancing capacity building of Indonesia’s troops to perform under UN PKO missions, both delegations agreed to begin peacekeeping assistance under the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI).

The U.S. delegation praised the continuing efforts of the Indonesian Government, especially the TNI, in defense and military reforms. It reiterated its expectation for accountability of past human rights abuses. The United States underscored the importance of maintaining efforts to enhance the professionalism of the TNI and respect by its members for human rights, and reaffirmed its commitment to focus its assistance to support further TNI reform. The U.S. applauded the Indonesian Court in conducting a fair trial for suspects involved in the Timika murder cases, which resulted in guilty verdicts and imprisonment. In resolving human rights violations in East Timor, the Indonesian delegation stressed that the Commission of Truth and Friendship is a key to Indonesia’s efforts to find a sound and sustainable solution and enhance the relationship between Indonesia and East Timor

The U.S. delegation commended Indonesia as a key partner in the war against terrorism through its efforts in apprehending and prosecuting perpetrators of acts of terror in Indonesia. Both delegations discussed their respective counter-terrorism efforts. The U.S. delegation recognized the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and its judiciary in the investigation, apprehension and conviction of perpetrators of acts of terror in Indonesia, consistent with the principles of human rights and civil liberties.

The U.S. delegation acknowledged the importance of Indonesia as an archipelagic state and Indonesia’s pivotal role in securing the safety and flow of navigation in the region. The U.S. delegation also reiterated the U.S. administration’s support for the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Both delegations noted the briefing on the progress of the United States-Indonesia Bilateral Defense Discussion (USIBDD). The IUSSD delegations and the representatives of the USIBDD reiterated the significance of the IUSSD as a bilateral forum in exploring options for policy recommendations to the respective governments and the USIBDD as a bilateral discussion in implementing policies set by the IUSSD. The delegations of the IUSSD and representatives of the USIBDD concurred that the USIBDD would report to the IUSSD annually or as deemed necessary. Both delegations attached great importance to the proper functioning of the four Working Groups of the USIBDD.

Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to the longstanding friendship between the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia as enunciated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President George W. Bush and to expand and deepen cooperation based on strategic partnership of the two nations and their shared values of democracy and pluralism. Furthermore, the U.S. delegation reaffirmed the U.S. administration’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia and the use of political means to address local political aspirations within a united Indonesia.

In closing, both delegations agreed that they highly valued the significance of both the IUSSD and the USIBDD as two important pillars in the security cooperation relationship between Indonesia and the United States. Both sides appreciated the open and constructive spirit shown by the participants throughout the Dialogue. The delegations agreed to hold a sixth Dialogue in 2008 in Hawaii, United States and agreed that additional contacts between Ministers and their representatives should continue.

Jakarta, Indonesia, 19 April 2007