Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro has asked the National Defense Forces (TNI) to remain on guard over the heightening political climate in the run up to 2014 general election.

In his address at the TNI Leadership Meeting 2012 here on Wednesday, Purnomo said TNI would face even greater challenge following the heightening political climate in the run up to 2014 presidential election.

"The function of state defense should be optimized because the challenge will be even greater and more complicated in the future," the defense minister said.

Therefore he added that TNI should continue to optimally maintain the security and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Meanwhile, TNI Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono when opening the meeting said the potential and factual threats were on economic and political issues.

The TNI chief added that the issues related to natural disaster, global warming, acts of radical groups, horizontal conflicts, and separatist movement would have an impact on the policy of TNI development priority scale.

Other regional issues he pointed out were border problem, transnational crime, maritime security, in addition to global issues of economic problem in Europe and the United States, energy crisis, global warming, and Middle East political development.

The TNI Leadership Meeting 2012 was themed, "With High Commitment and Consistency, TNI is Determined to Continue Bureaucratic Reforms and Minimum Main Power Development."(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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