Indonesia and the Czech Republic will intensify their defense cooperation under an agreement signed on November 21, 2006, ANTARA quoted a Defense Ministry official as saying. To that end, the two nations would hold talks to discuss steps to follow up the agreement, the ministry`s secretary general, Lt Gen Sjafrie Syamsoeddin, said here on Friday. "We have already set up a joint working committee within the framework of our bilateral defense cooperation. So, we will activate this working committee to implement the memorandum of understanding we signed," he said. Defense officials from the two nations are scheduled to hold talks in mid-March in Prague, the Czech Republic`s capital. The defense agreement covers exchange of information to develop the defense sector, and exchange of officers to attend educational courses in each other`s educational institutions, including staff schools and professional training centers. Under the agreement, the two sides would also exchange data on science and technology as well as engage in other forms of technical cooperation in accordance with their defense interests. The two countries had also agreed to promote cooperation between their defense institutions in the field of defense technology industries for mutual benefit, including exchange of technology, and technical assistance, and the holding of joint exercises.
