Every Country Needs Adequate Defense Power: President

Surabaya, East Java, March 12 (Antara) - Every country including Indonesia needs adequate defense power, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Wednesday. "I do not believe and do not agree with those who say that the world no longer needs defense forces because the world is more peaceful, democracy is present everywhere and conflicts can be settled peacefully," he said, in his capacity as the chairman of the Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP), at the Majapahit Lounge of the Indonesian Eastern Fleet Command Headquarters in Surabaya, East Java. He said although the country neither followed the geo-politics after the World War II, nor lived in the atmosphere of Cold War, as a sovereign country Indonesia still needs strong defense forces. He expressed appreciation to the first KKIP meeting, which was aimed at planning, developing and implementing policies for defense industries in particular and for defense in general. "Today we witnessed the results of the modernization and the development of the navy force. Before we had also seen the same with the air force, and God willing in the future we will experience what the army has done," he said referring to the exhibition and demonstration of the Navy's main weapons systems equipment. President Yudhoyono said the financial crisis that Indonesia faced 15 years ago had delayed modernization of its defense forces. "Due to the deep crisis, we had no resources to modernize and develop our forces," he said, adding that even after the crisis, modernization of the main weapons system equipment was not a priority. It was only after the global economic crisis, when Indonesia's economy grew and became one of the largest among the G20 member countries, that modernization of the country's main weapon systems equipment for the army, navy and air force as well as improvement in the professionalism of the police force became possible. Between 2010 and 2013, KKIP has been able to formulate various national policies that are strategic for the defense industry. KKIP had also set several national programs, produced blueprints for security, defense equipment researches and products. According to the Ministry of Defense, a master plan for the defense industry development for 2010-2029 has been designed to create strategic self-sufficiency in the field of defense, particularly in two main areas, namely development of the main weapons systems equipment and the defense industry. The target of the main weapons system equipment (alutsista) development include weapons with high mobility and striking force, while the target in the defense industry development is creating capability to meet the demand from the domestic market, compete in the international markets and support economic growth. (*)