"We discussed what we have done so far under our cooperation scheme while also touching on regional stability and global security as well as their impact on our two countries," the chairman of the Indonesian delegation to the Sixth Indonesia-Australia Strategic Defence Dialgue, Maj Gen Sjarifuddin Tippe, said here on Monday.
He said until now the two countries were still facing various problems in their sea border areas which needed solid cooperation and coordination between the two countries like joint security partrols.
Tippe further said to improve cooperation in various fields especially in defence, the two countries had agreed to improve mutual confidence, appreciation and respect.
"So all kinds of cooperation should be based on mutual trust and mutual appreciation and respect," he said.
In addition to officers exchange and joint military exercises and patrols in the territory of the two countries, Indonesia and Australia also agreed to improve cooperation in the exchange of information and intelligence.
Indonesia and Australia started their defence cooperation in 1968 with a joint mapping program in Indonesia. In the 1980s, the cooperation was conducted under the supervision of an institution called the Indonesia and Australia Defense Cooperation Program (DCP).
DCP had routine activities each year such as holding meetings alternately in Australia and Indonesia. Some cooperation was already conducted with the army and air force of Indonesia.
Cooperation of the two countries came to a standstill due to the East Timor crisis in 1999 with the exception of educational program.
The two countries tried to mend their bilateral cooperation as marked by an informal meeting between Indonesian and Australian defense officials in 2001.(*)
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