PANO –The 2016 Komodo multilateral naval exercise is underway with various different contents and Rear Admiral Hutabarat, Head of the exercise’s Organizing Panel, granted an interview to the People’s Army Newspaper.

Reporter: What are the goals of the 2016 Komodo multilateral navel exercise, Admiral?

Rear Admiral Hutabarat: The 2016 Komodo exercise consists of not only contents usually seen in a naval exercise, but also other related activities such as an expert workshop, an international naval ship parade. This year, the exercise is participated by navies from ASEAN, European and Asia-Pacific countries. I strongly believe that activities in the framework of the exercise will encourage and enhance capabilities of coordination and implementation of maritime peacekeeping, humanitarian, natural disaster consequence relief activities among countries.

Rear Admiral Hutabarat

Reporter: Can you please further elaborate on the theme “Readiness and Cooperation for Peace” of the exercise?

Rear Admiral Hutabarat: We picked up this theme, for naval forces of any countries not only play the defence role, but also are ever-ready to join humanitarian activities. The Komodo 2016 multilateral naval exercise combines maritime peacekeeping and humanitarian and natural disaster consequence relief activities. Besides, we chose to hold the exercise in Padang because the locals there are prone to earthquakes or even tsunamis.

Reporter: What do you think about the contribution of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN)?

Rear Admiral Hutaburat: First, I must say that the navies of the two countries, Vietnam and Indonesia, are maintaining a fine relationship. The VPN sends a hospital ship to the 2016 Komodo exercise, showing that the two navies can cooperate not only in the pure naval field, but also in other contents such as humanitarian aid and natural disaster consequence relief. As far as I know, locals in Padang warmly welcomed the hospital ship of the VPN and I strongly believe that the VPN will bring Padang’s locals practical medical support during the exercise this time.

Reporter: Thank you very much!

Reported by Vu Hung (from Padang, Indonesia)

Translated by Huu Duong