The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and its Malaysian counterpart agreed in Jakarta on Thursday to increase cooperation in the war on terrorism, disaster handling and humanitarian operations beginning in 2007.

The agreement was reached during the Second Malaysia-Indonesia (Malindo) Summit co-chaired by TNI Commander Marshal Djoko Suyanto and his Malaysian counterpart Admiral Tan Sri Datok Sri Mohammad Anwar bin Haji Mohammad Noor.

"The focus of our cooperation so far has been on military operations but we have changed it into non-war military operations such as disaster handling, humanitarian and anti-terror operations, " Djoko Suyanto was quoted by the national Antara news agency as saying.

He said although there would be a change in the focus of their cooperation, both countries agreed to continue holding joint military exercises, joint border patrols and building joint security posts along the land borders between Indonesia and Malaysia.

On the occasion, Malaysia proposed that joint military exercises be held once every three years (previously once every five years).

It also proposed that the standing procedures used in carrying out joint exercises be adjusted to the potential threats and conditions of the strategic environment in the region.

"Having joint military exercises once every five years is too infrequent. That's why we proposed that joint exercises be held once every three years," Admiral Mohammand Anwar said.

Malaysia also agreed to increase security measures along the borders between the two countries through establishment of joint security posts. It also agreed to shift the pattern of the joint exercises to non-war military operations.

All cooperation agreements reached in the Malindo summit would be taken to the 36th Session of the General Border Committee (GBC) in Jakarta in December 2006.

"We will study it again and arrange the scenario, standing procedures, pattern, places and objectives of the exercises," Djoko Suyanto said.

Source: Xinhua