REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- US Defense Minister James Mattis apologized to his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu over a ban on Army Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo to honor the invitation of US Joint Military Head of Staff in Washington D.C.

"The apology was extended specifically before the US minister of defense meet his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that are currently holding a meeting in Clark, the Philippines, this Monday," Communication and Public Center Head of the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General Totok Sugiharto noted in a written statement in Jakarta, Monday.

Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu is scheduled to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in the Philippines being held from Sunday (Oct 22) to Oct 25.

ADMM-Plus is a forum to assess security, regional, and international issues.

The meeting serves as a platform to expand the ADMM defense cooperation with eight partner countries: the US, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, India, and Russia.

The ADMM also acts as a working platform for the defense ministers of 10 ASEAN member countries to boost confidence-building measures and maintain regional peace and stability.

Earlier, Army Information Central Head Major General Wuryanto had stated that Army Commander General Nurmantyo was banned from entering the US to attend the Chiefs of Defense Conference on Country Violent Extremist Organization to be held from Monday (Oct 23) to Tuesday (Oct 24) in Washington D.C.

"Army General Gatot Nurmantyo and his wife, along with other delegations, have already taken care of their visa-related formalities and other related paperwork needed for the preparation. On Saturday (Oct 21), he had prepared to take an Emirates flight, yet moments before departure, they received notifications that the commander and other delegations are banned from entering the US by the US Custom and Border Protection," Major General Wuryanto had stated in Jakarta on Sunday (Oct 22).

Hence, due to the issue, General Nurmantyo was unable to attend the conference, he added.

Wuryanto remarked that Commander Nurmantyo had received an official invitation sent by US Commander General Joseph F. Durford Jr, and the former had responded in the affirmative as a mark of appreciation.

"The commander sent the reply, as he respected General Joseph F. Durford Jr, who is his friend and senior," Wuryanto added.

"The commander's agenda to visit the US is based on the sound relations between the two countries and commanders, which is why, General Gatot decided to not attend the invitation until a clear explanation was received from the US counterpart," Major General Wuryanto stated.

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