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Cohen Asia Trip Includes Strong Message to Indonesians

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2000 -- Defense Secretary William S. Cohen
will take "a strong message to the leaders of Indonesia" as part
of his nine-day trip to Asia.
Timorese militiamen killed three international aid workers --
one an American, Carlos Caceres-Collazo of Puerto Rico -- during
an attack Sept. 6.
"Indonesia's failure to protect an American citizen and other
international aid workers, and more general failure of the
Indonesian army to provide security for the international relief
operations, threatens to destroy the international goodwill
toward Indonesia at a time when it needs it most," said a senior
defense official.
During his time in Indonesia, Cohen will meet with President
Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and
Defense Minister Mahfud Mahmudin.
Cohen will travel first to the Philippines and meet with
President Joseph Estrada and Secretary of National Defense
Orlando Mercado. The United States is seeking to "reinvigorate"
U.S. security relationship with the Philippines, officials said.
He then moves on to Singapore to meet President Sellapan Rama
Nathan and Senior Minister Kwan Yew Lee. Cohen may visit U.S.
sailors and Marines during this stop.
Next, in Thailand, Cohen will meet with leaders to discuss
mutual concerns, such as counternarcotics operations and
demining, before flying to South Korea.
Cohen and Army Gen. Henry Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, will participate in the Defense Consultative Meeting
and Military Consultative Meetings in Korea. In addition, the
secretary will visit some of the 36,000 U.S. service members
based in the country.
Cohen will conclude his trip with a stop in Japan. There he will
continue discussions begun Sept. 12 in Washington with Minister
of State for Defense Kazuo Torashima. He will also meet with
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Foreign Minister Yohei Kono.