Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Security measures during US President Barrack Obama`s visit in Jakarta next March would be conducted by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) in accordance with the procedures for state guests, a minister said.

TNI had fixed procedure to guard state guests, said Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a meeting with Admiral Robert S Williard, Commander of the US Pacific Command, here on Wednesday.

Admiral Williard paid a courtesy call on the president to introduce himself as the new chief of the US Pacific Command. He assumed his post four months ago.

In his present position, Admiral Williard has to establish coordination with 38 countries to smooth the perfromance of his duties.

"They (Williard and retinue) have just been to Thailand to witness a joint military exercise, and now they are in Indonesia. They paid courtesy calls on the TNI chief, on me and later the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, and this morning on the president," Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.

At the meeting with the President, Admiral Williard asked for the TNI (Indonesian military) be in charge of security during President Obama`s visit in Indonesia.

"They want the military to be in charge of security. And we have no problem with that, because, in fact, it`s in accordance with our fixed procedures (for guarding state guests)," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Dino Patti Djalal, a special staff of President Yudhoyono, said that preparations had started to be made for Obama`s visit.

"US Secret Service agents have arrived here and made field visits to places which will be visited (by President Obama). They have also coordinated with the presidential guard force, police and TNI," Dino Patti Djalal said.

According to Djalal, the security measures will be adjusted to US standards. As the host, Indonesia must provide the best possible security in the interest of good bilateral ties.
He said it would be the longest ever US President`s visit to Indonesia.
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