Indonesia buys more arms from Poland

WARSAW (AFP) May 04, 2004
Indonesia on Tuesday expanded the list of arms it plans to buy from Poland with the help of a 75 million-dollarmillion-euro) export credit line granted by Warsaw, the two countries defence ministers said.

"We want to make new purchases. On our list are things that are already in the works: 11 Mi-2 helicopters and four Skytruck planes.

"We are also interested in buying 11 extra Skytrucks," Indonesian Defence Minister Air Marshal Suprihadim told a joint news conference with Polish counterpart Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski, who said Indonesia was "also interested in buying long-distance radars".

Indonesia has been turning to alternative arms suppliers since Washington halted most military contacts with Jakarta in 1999 following the military's failure to stem violence in East Timor.

The export credit as granted during a visit to Indonesia by President Aleksander Kwasniewski in February.

WAR.WIRE