Jakarta, Feb. 7 -- President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of defense matters for a nation during the first session of the National Defense Council (DPN) at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Friday.

Before the president gave his directives, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who is also the council's daily chair, presented his report to several ministers of the Red and White Cabinet who were in attendance at the meeting.

"As reported by the daily chair, defense is a vital issue for a country. Even in the opening of our Constitution, the first national goal is to protect all Indonesian people and all Indonesian territory," Prabowo stated.

"The first principle is the principle of protection, meaning the princip...