Q:        How would you assess this trip? You’re here soon after the Prime Minister’s visit.

A:        Well, it’s been a very good visit. It’s really to meet old friends and to strengthen the relationship which is a good one. I think the Prime Minister’s visit to Indonesia has set the framework for cooperation between both countries, which is that there are many areas in which we can cooperate on and we should focus on those areas. And when there are issues to be resolved between the two countries, there’s a process by which we can do so. But we should look at the overall relationship and see the broader relationship between both countries and progress it on that basis. So the defence relationship is a very important component of the relationship between both countries. It’s a relationship which has been built up over three decades. And it’s a relationship based on trust, cooperation, friendship, mutual respect and has brought mutual benefits to both sides.

Q:        And how would you assess this new government in its energy and vigour to address some of the pressing security issues?

A:        The government appears to me to be committed to addressing the issues in order to create a good environment for investment and for progress in Indonesia. I think the government does understand that security is an important component of the basic framework that is needed for that so I expect that the government will put in effort and energy to do so.

Q:        You mentioned in your remarks earlier that you would like to develop the people to people relations as a way of boosting the relations between the two countries. Minister, could you elaborate on that?

A: Yes, certainly. I think the people to people relationship, and I was referring specifically to people to people relationships in the armed forces. This is a very important component of the relationship building between both armed forces and both countries. So while we may have exercises, while we may have MOUs of various kinds, and these are mutually beneficial in their own right, I think the greatest value of these interactions is really building up a reservoir of understanding and goodwill and friendship which will enable both sides to walk together well into the future. For example, if we conduct between the two air forces, a fighter weapons instructor’s course, and you have the, sort of, top guns from both sides and they train together on the same course. They will grow up together in their own air forces, interact with each other subsequently in exercises and one of these days, they may be the chiefs of their air forces and they would have known each other for maybe 15 to 30 years. This is the kind of relationship which we would like to see built up on both sides and under our MOUs, we have been conducting courses like this. Another example is in the Navy. As part of the navy exercises that we do, the Angkatan Laut, the TNI-AL, has invited our navy to take part on socio-civic activities which their navy participates in. So our navy has been with the TNI-AL to various parts of Indonesia that are not just close to Singapore but even in eastern Indonesia, doing socio-civic activities. This has also given a very deep insight, a better understanding of Indonesia to our sailors, to our officers and I think this is very valuable.

Q:        Minister, if I may touch on the issue of piracy. I mean this is an important issue for both countries, given the importance of the Straits of Malacca to Singapore’s economy and to Singapore’s shipping community. Was this issue raised in your meetings with the President and were any new developments discussed?

A:        This issue was discussed. The President did mention this as an issue which we should all work more closely on. And he was thinking not just of the two countries working together but all three littoral states and he also mentioned that there are countries outside the region who have capacities and abilities which they can bring to helping to solve this problem. So, these were some of the issues that we discussed and we both agreed that it was good to cooperate. That the primary responsibility of security in the straits lies with the three littoral countries but that we should welcome like-minded countries who can contribute to the security of the Straits.

Q:        How soon before, say Japan, comes on board?

A:        I am not able to give a prediction on that. But Japan has currently, has been sponsoring an initiative called RECAAP, and one of the initiatives is actually to set up an information sharing centre. This is one of the ways in which we can improve our anticipation of such events. With information, you can build up patterns. With information, you can build up an ability to respond more quickly. So I think this is a very useful capability. Japan has been sponsoring this initiative and we are fully supportive of it.

Q:        How far do you see the Americans playing a role in this?

A:        This is not something which we discussed specifically.

Q:        In what way do you see them being able to contribute, for instance?

A:        This is not something which we discussed specifically on this visit.

Q:        How would you assess the joint coordinated patrols in the Malacca Straits? Could you also assess that?

A:        Well, it’s early days yet. We’ve only recently started. It is an important first step in getting the three countries to be more coordinated in dealing with the security issues in the Malacca Straits. I believe that with more experience, more coordination, and also as we are able to involve other parties who have a critical role to play too. Because you can have a ship which doesn’t stop in any of the littoral states, it loads cargo in another country, sails through and you know, passes through the whole region and such a ship also is something which we may want to engage, say the international maritime mobilization or something… a similar organisation to assist in some procedures which will help in ensuring… to improving security. 

Q:        Minister, touching on the issue of terrorism, did you all discuss details about this?

A:        We did not discuss any details. I should say that the focus of our discussions, just to make sure that we have the right context, the focus of our discussions really, was on cooperation between the two countries. So it was not an issue-based discussion where we talked about this issue or that issue. We talked about the framework for cooperation between our two countries, the basis upon which we can move forward in strengthening what is already a very good relationship. As an example of the good relationship between the two armed forces, you may know that we just had Ex Safkar Indopura between the armies of both countries, just last week. One of the KOSTRAD battalions with an SAF battalion exercised together. This year also, we will be holding a ceremony to mark the 30^th anniversary of naval exercises, Ex Eagle, between the TNI-AL and Singapore. As a young officer, I had the good fortune of taking part in this first exercise so I have seen the relationship between both countries, both armed forces, develop from the fairly rudimentary level, 30 years ago in 1974, when we were just getting to know each other and build up over the years. So for me, I would like to see this relationship strengthened further into the future.

Q:        In summing up all your meetings, how candid were the discussions? How would you describe the mood with which they view Singapore at this stage, particularly in defence cooperation?   

A:        Well, I had discussions with the President, with the Vice-President, the MENKO and as well as the Minister for Defence and the mood was positive for stronger defence and security relationships between Indonesia and Singapore. All of them gave their blessings and we’re prepared to go ahead. I also had discussions with, of course, PANG-TNI GEN Sutarto.

Q:        And how would you assess the military’s pace of reform and the kind of changes that Indonesia’s military is going through right now? If you could give us some insight?

A:        My view is that the Indonesian military plays a very important part in the stability and the unity of Indonesia. This is a role which the military has historically played and has continued to play, especially over the past seven years when there had been major transitions in Indonesia. The military, together with the police, have held the rig and allow the reform process to take place in what I would consider, remarkably peacefully. The latest elections, I think were a real testimony to this, where for the first time there were directly elected presidential elections, the voting went on very smoothly in two rounds. I think this is a testimony also to the good work of the security forces in maintaining an environment in which this democratization and reform process could take place. So overall, I would say, if you put the overall outcome of the visit, it was a good opportunity for me to meet old friends again. I’ve had the occasion to meet the President before, in his previous capacities, and also the Vice-President, and MENKO Widodo, I’ve known him for very many years, from the time that he was in the Navy and also Pak Juwono, I’ve know him when he was the Education Minister, when we were both Education Ministers and also when he was Defence Minister the first time round. So it’s a long relationship and we hope to strengthen the bonds and hope for better cooperation in the future.