Following is the transcript of the August 2 press briefing:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
(Jakarta, Indonesia)
August 2, 2002

PRESS BRIEFING BY SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
AND INDONESIAN COORDINATING MINISTER
FOR POLITICAL AND SECURITY AFFAIRS
SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO

August 2, 2002

Jakarta, Indonesia
3:20 a.m., EST

MINISTER YUDHOYONO: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just completed our meeting with Secretary Powell, and we shared ideas and discussed matters related to the national security of Indonesia, among other things. On the topic of military-to-military relations with the U.S., including police cooperation, we also discussed the Indonesian policy and strategy in dealing with internal security affairs, mainly our actions in solving problems in Aceh, in Papua, and in Maluku (Moluccas). And we also discussed international cooperation in combating terrorism. So, I'll be glad to present Mr. Powell to take your questions regarding the topics that we have discussed.

SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. As the Minister said, we just had an excellent series of discussions with various officials involved in national security matters here in Indonesia. I was pleased to be able to present them with the ideas that we have as well as initiatives we have to move forward. One of note is that we are now pushing for International Military Education and Training to begin the IMET program, and other fellowship programs which will allow us to help the Indonesian Armed Forces, the TNI, improve their capability, improve their standards - their standards of military performance as well as their standards of performance as a military organization in a democratic system. The resumption of IMET - when we are able to get it all worked out - and these other programs are really just a beginning. Much more will have to happen in the months ahead as we watch the performance of the TNI, and as we make sure that problems that existed in the past, where accountability has still to be placed, will be dealt with and there will be accountability. We will measure this, and this will assist us in taking the case for further support to our Congress. So, this is just a beginning, and there are many stops along the way until we get to a full resumption of military-to-military activities and cooperation.

I would like to thank the Minister and his colleagues for extending this opportunity for me to be here and to learn about what is happening in Indonesia with respect to security, to pledge our further cooperation, and to let the Minister and his colleagues know of America's determination to work with them in the campaign against terrorism, assisting Indonesia in dealing with the threats that it faces. I look forward to my next visit to Indonesia. This one has been much too short. Thank you.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I would like to ask if you raised the issues of Mr. Abubakar Basyir and also Mr. Thalib. Mr. Basyir is purported to be the leader of Jemaah Islamiah, and yet he not only is free, but I believe the Vice President had tea with him recently. Mr. Thalib, his trial has been postponed, and to the Minister, I would ask also whether this matter was raised and why these gentlemen remain free.

SECRETARY POWELL: We didn't go into specific cases. We were talking about programs that are under way. There were one or two specific items that were mentioned that I think would be best to keep in the channel in which they were mentioned. I don't know if the Minister wishes to add anything to that or not. If not, I will take the next question. (inaudible) Yes, hang on a minute.

COORDINATING MINISTER YUDHOYONO: Actually, our system of cooperation is working well, and he will not of course discuss the specific issues. That is handled properly by our two agencies - Intelligence, Police - and other agencies, who are working together in combating terrorism.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary?

SECRETARY POWELL: Yes?

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, earlier you mentioned that you are pretty satisfied with (inaudible) Indonesia's efforts to combat terrorism. But, what is your optimism based on? And the second question is: when you were in Singapore, you said that you were going to bring to President Megawati some initiatives and some ideas. Could you expound on that, please? Thank you.

SECRETARY: We've given out a fact sheet that I thi nk should be available to press now, of the various items that I have presented to President Megawati in the course of the day. We exchanged views with President Megawati and other members of her administration on the transformation efforts that are underway, on the economic development efforts that are underway, on access to international financing -- a full range of issues that went beyond just military-to-military and counterterrorism. The programs that are contained in the fact sheet that will be provided to you, if you don't have it ready, amount to close to 50 million dollars over a multi-year period. This is an expression of our support for the efforts of the Indonesian government. The reason I am optimistic and was positive about the support that Indonesia is giving to the counterterrorism effort comes from the information I have and the briefings I receive, the cooperation that Indonesia has shown in a number of areas, working with us, their support of our efforts in Brunei earlier this week to come up with a declaration on counterterrorism, and just an exchange of views that suggest that Indonesia understands very well that terrorism is a threat to all of us. It has to be dealt with on a regional basis as well as on an international basis, and we have the commitment of President Megawati and her government to work with us in this campaign against terrorism, which is a threat to all civilized, democratic nations. Thank you.

3:50 a.m. EST