"There is nothing wrong if we share intelligence with Russia. The form of cooperation is possibly through exchange, training, and equipment, among others," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated at the presidential office here on Wednesday.
President Jokowi held a meeting with Patrushev at the Merdeka Palace on Tuesday to discuss issues related to defense and security.
Panjaitan noted that Russia had offered several sophisticated weaponry, such as the Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft, submarines, and high-speed ships to Indonesia.
However, he added that Indonesia had earlier cooperated largely with western countries but lacked intelligence cooperation with Russia.
"It could be cooperation in the form of information exchange in the face of drugs, terrorism, or other threats," Panjaitan remarked, adding that during the meeting, Jokowi and Patrushev also discussed international issues, such as the escalating tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
"The president just now pointed out that we want Russia and other countries to understand Indonesias stance to help pacify the regional tension," Pandjaitan affirmed.
The minister stated that during a meeting held on the previous day, he and Patrushev had discussed cooperation in the areas of intelligence, main weaponry, and the fight against illicit drug trafficking as well as terrorism.
"They have also shown interest in dealing with the narcotic problem. Therefore, they want to share intelligence information on narcotic trafficking," he stated.
The Russian official was accompanied by Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikail Galuzin.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi noted that President Jokowi had been invited to attend the Russian and ASEAN Summit to be held in Sochi in May 2016.
"The president said God Willing, he will be present," she remarked.
Jokowi has invited the Russian government to be an observer at the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to be held in Jakarta on March 6-7, 2016.
Russia will be one of the four countries to be invited as observers to the OIC Summit, the minister noted.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
