"The US government highly respects Indonesia. During the discussion with the minister (Panetta) today, we discussed the progress achieved in bilateral relations and made a commitment to maintain it," Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Sunday after meeting with Minister Panetta on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting at the Mulia Hotel, Bali.
Purnomo said the US defense minister expressed his government`s commitment to assist Indonesia in procuring hardware for its main military weaponry system. He said Minister Panetta also made a statement that the US supported the establishment of an ASEAN Security Community by 2015.
"The US has also played a role in supporting Indonesia`s program to develop its maritime security sustem by providing radar for use in the Malacca Strait," Purnomo said.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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