VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (right) met with Greek Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos (middle) in Athens, Greece, on Friday (March 11, 2022). (ANTARA/HO-Public Relations of General Secretary of Defense Ministry/uyu) - 

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto met with Greek Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos in Athens, Greece, on March 11, 2022, according to an official statement received here on Saturday.

During the meeting, they discussed efforts toward increasing defense cooperation between the two countries, including for defense equipment as well as joint education and training.

The ministers also talked about other strategic defense issues.

The Indonesian minister was welcomed with an honorary ceremony for higher ranks.

"We had a productive discussion. Greece and Indonesia have good relations. Greece is one of the first European countries to recognize our sovereignty," Subianto remarked.

The two nations established cooperation in the defense industry in 2015 through the inking of an agreement between Greek company Theon Sensors and Indonesian state-run weapons company PT Pindad (Persero) for the joint production of night vision rifles (TBSM) in Indonesia.

The joint project aimed to optimize the utilization of Indonesian domestic products for the TBSM.

The two enterprises also collaborated to establish an assembly line and conduct joint sales of the product.

The collaboration, which was titled Pindad Optronics Workshop, was launched at the 2016 Indo Defence Expo and Forum.

The cooperation sought to optimize the technology transfer process to enrich technology application in the domestic industry.

Meanwhile, Panagiotopoulos said that his country plans to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Indonesia in the political, economic, and defense sectors, especially in trade, maritime, shipping, research and development, tourism, as well as industry.

During the meeting, the Indonesian minister also expressed his concern over the escalating situation in Ukraine.

"We urge all parties to immediately start a peaceful dialogue and resolve the problem. We hope and pray that the crisis will be resolved through a peaceful resolution,” he added//ANT