Moeldoko, Donovan Jr Discuss Indonesia-US Bilateral Cooperation
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko received the visit of the American ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R Donovan Jr, at his office in Jakarta on Monday, to discuss a number of bilateral cooperation, including joint military training.
“Maybe, we will start with (joint training for) Detachment 81 of Kopassus,” Donovan stated in a press release from the Presidential Staff Office.
Detachment 81 of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus TNI AD) is the elite force that has the skill and expertise to counter terrorism and also intelligence and counter-intelligent.
In addition to military training, Donovan Jr also revealed his mission to strengthen cooperation in various fields that have been going on between the two countries.
Indonesia and the US have a very long history of cooperation. As the largest country in Southeast Asia, Indonesia plays an important role in maintaining regional stability.
In this regard, Moeldoko is much aware of the rebalancing policies pursued by the US in the Asia Pacific region.
“The most important point is that every country which has great influence in the region does not take a policy that may reduce stability in the Asia Pacific,” Moeldoko stated.
Donovan Jr also expressed his desire to boost the value of trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and the US.
Considering the scale and strength of Indonesia’s economy in recent periods, many opportunities can be utilized for bilateral cooperation.
“Indonesia’s trade volume with the US is only 1.5-fold larger than the US trade volume with Vietnam,” Donovan Jr remarked.
The trade value between the US and Indonesia in 2017 increased by 7 percent compared to the previous year.
Donovan Jr also stated that a number of American companies operating in Indonesia are good advocates who can illustrate on how to do business in Indonesia.
He added that companies already operating in Indonesia can explain and invite other US companies interested in investing in Indonesia.
In response, Moeldoko revealed that Indonesia continues to make improvements in the system and regulations that are considered impeding.
“Currently, we have created 15 packages of economic policies that include deregulation and creation of investment climate and ease of business; therefore, I expect more and more US investment in Indonesia,” he noted.
During the meeting, Moeldoko and Donovan Jr also discussed the Draft of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in parliament.
According to Donovan Jr, the protection of minority and vulnerable groups is urgently needed.
Meanwhile, Moeldoko argued that the issue of majority and minority is no longer relevant, because the most important aspects to push the nation forward are competence and expertise.
“Such dichotomous views will not allow us to do anything more effectively. Therefore, we no longer need to develop such ideas,” Moeldoko revealed.
Related to the Draft of the Criminal Code, Moeldoko pointed out that the current Criminal Code has existed since the Dutch era, whereas the current development in society has been very modern and different from the situation and condition when the Criminal Code was made,” he explained. (T/RS5/RS1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
