INDONESIA NON-COMMITTAL ON BELARUS, MATHESON

UNCLAS JAKARTA 013217 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR L/UNA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA ILC BO ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA NON-COMMITTAL ON BELARUS, MATHESON REF: A. STATE 187018 (DEMARCHE ON BELARUS ANTI-US RESOLUTION) ¶B. STATE 186285 (INTERNATIONAL LAW COMMISSION ELECTION) ¶C. JAKARTA 13171 (DEMARCHES ON CUBA COUNTRY RESOLUTIONS) ¶D. JAKARTA 12506 (ILC: INDONESIA REQUESTS EXCHANGE OF VOTES) ¶E. STATE 182628 (RESPONSE TO GOI DIPNOTE) ¶1. (SBU) On November 15 we met with Harry Purwanto, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director for North and Central America, to present demarches on Belarus' anti-U.S. resolutions (ref A) and to solicit support for the candidacy of Michael Matheson to the International Law Commission (ref B). 2.(SBU) Purwanto was familiar with the Belarus problem from our presentation to him of our views on country-specific issues last week (ref C). Puwanto accepted our points and undertook to convey them with the Directorate of Multilateral Affairs. ¶3. (SBU) Puwanto was similarly familiar with Mr. Matheson's ILC candidacy. He thanked us for our presentation and promised to coordinate our latest approach with the Director General for Multilateral Affairs. ¶4. (SBU) Comment. With regard to Belarus' anti-U.S. resolutions, we believe that - for once - the GOI's longstanding aversion to country-specific resolutions will work in our favor. Although Indonesia's voting decision will likely be made in New York without guidance from Jakarta, the GOI will probably resist being drawn into this dispute on the side of Belarus. Concerning Mr. Matheson's ILC candidacy, the GOI has already proposed a vote swap (ref D) which we have rebuffed (ref E). This being the case, the GOI is unlikely to openly declare its support for Mr. Matheson, although it is not entirely out of the question that Indonesia might vote for him in the end. End comment PASCOE