RI-CZECH REPUBLIC DEFENSE COOPERATION GETS STRONGER

Jakarta, April 10 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) Chief General Djoko Santoso said the defense cooperation with the Czech Republic was expected to become stronger and better in the future.

The bilateral cooperation was built on the basis of mutual understanding and respect, he said at his meeting with the Czech Republic Military Chief General Vlastimil Picek here Friday.

General Picek paid a courtesy call on General Santoso at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

"The bilateral cooperation has been running well, but it is expected to become better in the future," General Joko Santoso said.

The Indonesian and Czech Republic governments signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in defense on November 21, 2006.

The cooperation activities laid down in the MoU included information sharing on science and technology and expertise and exchange of officers in research, staff command education, and professional training.

The two governments also agreed on increasing the defense institutional cooperation related to defense industrial technology, exchange of technology, technical assistance, as well as joint-training and production.

After the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999.