Head of Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency Lieutenant-General Abdullah Hendropriyono, retired, said this in the exclusive RIA Novosti interview on Wednesday.
"We have to exchange information and experience with Russia. I have great respect for how you work - firmly and resolutely", he said.
"We very much appreciate Russia's political and moral support after the terrorist act in Bali, as well as the material aid and the experience shared", he noted.
The Indonesian intelligence chief is sure that the main thing in the struggle against terrorism is international cooperation.
"Each country has its own priorities, which we must treat with respect. But the pooling of efforts is necessary. If so, in five to ten years to come, I'm sure, we will defeat terrorism world-wide", he believes.
The Indonesian intelligence service would also like to share its rich experience with fellow-workers in other countries. "The point is not that we are proud of our successes", the Indonesian intelligence chief said. "We want to make Muslim society understood, as well as the way terrorists use it, distorting and making use of this peaceful religion in their own ends".
"Terrorism is not the problem of America alone. Terrorists know of no borders. Terrorist organisations set up in different countries establish contacts with each other", the interviewee said. "They have no nationality. The only thing they want is to destroy us, the existing civilisation", Hendropriyono emphasised.
"I don't care whether or not the terrorist organisation Jemaa Islamiyah, operating in our South-East Asian region, has contacts with Al-Qaeda. It's not my business", he said.
"It is my business to find and destroy it. Terrorists threaten our life, kill people. Even if they, staging the explosion in Bali, sought above all to deal a blow at America (at the time of explosion, there were many tourists from the West there, mostly Australians). For us it is still a crime against humanity", he stressed.
"I don't care what motivated terrorists. Let them declare themselves 'liberation fronts' or something like that. As long as they kill innocent people we view them as terrorists", Henrdopriyono said.
The world is now faced with a great danger. Fighting against it, we must get to the root causes, study the philosophy, psychology of terrorists and then formulate a global answer. This is the way to stop them.
"We will not win a victory by only attacking terrorism from without", the Indonesia intelligence chief said. "We must act also from within".
In September the International Intelligence Service Institute, established by the Indonesian National Intelligence Agency, will open on the Batam island not far from Singapore.
"What is the difference between nationalism, separatism and extremism? Intelligence is to provide a scientifically-sound answer. Intelligence is knowledge. It is a social science unlike, say, mathematics", the Indonesian intelligence chief is sure.
"We are not going to teach but jointly to discuss. Australia, the United States, Singapore have confirmed their participation in the programme. I would like to invite colleagues from your country", Hendropriyono said.
"I'm sure that together we will find an answer", he said in conclusion.
