A STRATEGY meeting was due to be held today to discuss the future of Lancashire's vital aerospace industry.

Key aerospace decision-makers at both regional and national level have been invited by the Consortium of Lancashire Aerospace, which represents more than 100 firms involved in the industry in the North West.

The meeting, at County Hall Preston, will review the consortium's strategy and look at how it can be co-ordinated with the work of other agencies and organisations. "We want to develop a better collective understanding of the medium and long-term strategy requirements which affect the future of our industry," said Dennis Mendoros, consortium chairman and managing director of Euravia Engineering and Supply Co Ltd.

"We hope that the conclusions drawn from this meeting will both safeguard and increase employment and boost the local economy."

Meanwhile, British Aerospace has come under fire again for selling Hawk jets to Indonesia.

Campaigners against the deal are protesting at Indonesia's invasion of the tiny territory of East Timor which had declared its independence.

There have been ten UN resolutions calling for Indonesia to withdraw and 200,000 East Timorese have died in the 20-year occupation, the campaigners claim.

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