Indonesia, Qatar seek defence cooperation deal

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Qatar have expressed an intent to sign a defence cooperation agreement as both countries seek to boost defence capacity and cooperation, officials said on Tuesday.

Here are some details:

* Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin met his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani in Jakarta on Tuesday.

* The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding, Sjafrie said.

* "Although we are still in the process of formulating a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), today we will be signing an agreement leading up to the DCA," Sjafrie told reporters.

* Both ministries also signed other agreements to hold joint military training and education, as well as agreements related to the defence industry, Sjafrie said without giving further details.

* "Relationship between Indonesia and Qatar is very strategic, especially in defence sector... We look forward for further cooperation between our two countries," the Qatari minister said.

* The cooperation will involve army and navy personnel from both countries, the Indonesian Defence Ministry said.