Jakarta, April 25 -- Indonesia's Foreign Ministry affirmed the RI's openness to cooperation with other countries to develop a satellite-launching spaceport in Biak Island, Papua.

"Hence, the proposed use of Biak is entirely unrelated to any foreign country's intent to utilize it for defense or security purposes," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rolliansyah Soemirat stated here on Thursday.

The spokesperson noted that Indonesia's former space agency LAPAN (National Institute of Aeronautics and Space) identified Biak Island in Papua as an ideal location for spacecraft and satellite launches decades ago.

The conclusion supported the Indonesian government's plan to designate Biak as the site of a domestic spaceport that will be developed in ...