Australia and Indonesia will conduct a joint civil-military seminar in Sentul, near Jakarta on 7 May 2013, Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP announced today.
The seminar will include senior representatives from the Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC) and the Indonesian Peacekeeping Centre (PMPP).
“The 2013 Defence White Paper reaffirmed the important role international engagement has in maintaining a secure and stable region. This seminar is a practical example of Australia’s commitment to further strengthen and broaden relationships with our neighbours including Indonesia,” Dr Kelly said.
The seminar will feature presentations by ACMC Executive Director Dr Alan Ryan, who will discuss the future of ACMC-PMPP collaboration, and Brigadier John Gould, Head of Australian Defence Staff Jakarta on the Australian-Indonesia bilateral relationship.
The seminar will officially launch a paper by Colonel Achmad Adipati Karnawidjaja, Director of International Cooperation and Information Management, PMPP, titled ‘Enhancing Civil-Military Cooperation and Regional Partnerships in International Peacekeeping Operations’.
Colonel Karnawidjaja completed his paper whilst on secondment to the ACMC in late 2012. The ACMC will offer a new secondment opportunity to the PMPP in the latter part of 2013.
The ACMC was established by the Australian Government in 2008 to assist in improving Australia’s civil-military effectiveness for conflict and disaster management overseas.
The ACMC works with government departments and agencies and partners with international and non-government organisations including the United Nations, on issues related to civil-military engagement. ACMC activities help agencies to develop national capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to conflicts and disasters overseas.