Expect bilateral sucurity pact

SYDNEY - Australia and Indonesia plan to draft outlines of a security accord in the next few weeks, expecting an official signing later this year, after successful discussions between the two countries' foreign ministers in Canberra on March 18.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirajuda, said that they made progress in discussions and there was a chance to reach a bilateral comprehensive security accord this year.
According to the Australian Foreign Ministry, the two FMs discussed in detail a security accord covering many areas such as bilateral cooperation in the fight against laundering and human trafficking.
Downer said the bilateral security accord will stipulate that Australia respects Indonesia's territorial integrity through recognizing Indonesia's existing borderlines and not supporting any separatist movements in the country.
Besides, Downer said the security accord will also include closer cooperation between the two national defense ministries. * ant/vna

Damage thousands ha of forests nationwide

HA NOI - More than 1,400 ha of forests were ruined by 39 forest fires in northern Son La province in the first two months of this year, according to the province's Ranger Department.
The department has asked local rangers to take immediate measures to strengthen fire fighters emergency response capabilities.
In the central highlands Kon Tum province, three forest fires occurred on Mar. 19, damaging more than 500 ha of forests.
The steering board for forest fire fighting of Kon Tum province said that 65 forest fires have occurred in the province since the beginning of the 2004-05 dry seasons, destroying a total of 1,300 ha of forests in the locality. * ant/vna

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