NATO General participates in Jakarta International Defence Dialogue 2013
From 20 to 21 March, senior political and military leaders from the entire Asia-Pacific region and beyond gathered in Jakarta. The Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomed more than 1,300 delegates from 42 nations for the 3rd Jakarta International Defence Dialogue (JIDD). The Director General of the International Military Staff, Lieutenant General Jürgen Bornemann, represented NATO at the defence dialogue.
The objective of the JIDD which was held with the topic of “Defence and Diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific Region” was to promote intergovernmental cooperation to meet common threats and challenges. The organisers sought to provide a forum for officials and experts to discuss current and evolving trends in the region, to enhance government-to-government and military-to-military confidence building and help facilitate ongoing and new multilateral initiatives.
After an opening address by Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, and keynote speeches by Prime Minister of Timor Leste, H.E. Mr. Xanana Gusmao and President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the conference began with a series of panel discussions on subjects ranging from "The Rise of Asia and new Geo-Politics in the Asia-Pacific region" to "Economic Power, Defense and Diplomacy" and "Evolving Threats and Challenges in Asia-Pacific".
In addition to the panel discussions, Gen. Bornemann conducted bi-lateral meetings with the Australian Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, Mr. Morio Ito, Defense Councillor, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Defence Japan, representatives of the Indonesian Defense University and other Allied representatives at the conference. He also took the opportunity to brief the Allied Defence Attaches at the conference on current events at NATO HQ.
The JIDD is meant to become a forum for participating officials and their counterparts to discuss bi-lateral and multi-lateral initiatives, to address issues across all areas of defense and security, and to ensure the ongoing efforts to promote new multi-lateral cooperation.