BRITAIN-CAMERON/INDONESIA Britain to offer counter-terrorism support to Jakarta - Cameron

Record ID: 146151

  • Title: BRITAIN-CAMERON/INDONESIA Britain to offer counter-terrorism support to Jakarta - Cameron
  • Date: 27th July 2015
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (JULY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** INDONESIA PRESIDENT, JOKO WIDODO, AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, DAVID CAMERON, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM WIDODO AND CAMERON GOING OVER TO TABLE BRITISH DELEGATES CAMERON AND WIDODO WITNESSING DOCUMENTS BEING SIGNED BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT, FRANCIS MAUDE, SIGNI
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAWFBWI80T9PSAEJRIIY2YFF0A
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Britain's Prime Minister said on Monday (July 27) that the UK would work with Indonesia to jointly tackle the "shared enemy" of ISIL.
    David Cameron made the comments in Jakarta, the first stop of a four-day trade mission to Southeast Asia.
    During a joint news conference with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, Cameron announced that Britain would provide a package of counter-terrorism measures to support to the country.
    "We're both concerned about the threat from ISIL and we are determined to defeat these terrorists. We've agreed to step up our joint efforts both to tackle the terrorist threat and to counter the extremist narrative. The UK will provide a package of counter-terrorism support. This will include beefing up security at airports in Bali and Jakarta, enhanced cooperation on terrorism investigations and training for 50 Indonesian counter-terrorism police officers in the United Kingdom. Alongside this, Britain will seek to learn from Indonesia's approach to countering extremism with an exchange programme between religious and community leaders here and in the UK to foster a better understanding of what works. ISIL is a shared enemy and it is right we share our expertise," he said.
    About 500 people from Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, and 200 from Malaysia are believed to have joined the extremists in Iraq and Syria.
    Britain raised its domestic terrorism alert to the second-highest level in August last year, saying an attack was "highly likely".
    Cameron also said his government would make available loans of up to one billion pounds to Indonesia to help finance infrastructure projects which could pave the way for 200 million pounds' worth of Indonesian exports to Britain.
    Possible projects include a 400 million pound sewage treatment system in the capital, Jakarta, and geothermal power projects worth 66 million pounds.
    Cameron wants to expand British trade links with the rest of the world to compensate for its dependence on trade with Europe, parts of which remain mired in an economic funk.
    "We've talked today about how to create the conditions that will further enhance business confidence and encourage investment to flourish. I know this is something President Widodo is committed to and the UK will help by sharing practical experience to the Indonesian government over next three years on tackling regulatory burdens and make it easier to do business," said Cameron.
    During his Southeast Asia trip, the British prime minister is expected to seal trade deals worth more than 750 million pounds.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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