JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday hosted an informal breakfast meeting with several army leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Being an informal meeting, Indonesian defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told the Antara news agency that the leaders did not discuss topics related to military operations. Furthermore, the meeting would reaffirm Indonesia's commitment to not establish any military pact within the ASEAN region.

Purnomo underlined that military cooperation should not always be considered as war related, as international military forces have shown to assist during disaster mitigation, peace keeping efforts, anti-terrorism operations, as well as maritime security efforts.

It was the eighth informal meeting between ASEAN military leaders. During the gathering, Indonesian defense forces commander Admiral Agus Suhartono and General Songkitti Jaggabatara from the Royal Thai Armed Forces representing the ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces delivered speeches.

The leaders held their closed-doors meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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