Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA13341
2006-11-29 10:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

INDONESIAN RESPONSE TO REVISED PROPOSED TEXT FOR A

Tags:  ID KTIA MARR MOPS PREL 
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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJA #3341 3331051
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291051Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2265
INFO RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 013341 

SIPDIS

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DEPARTMENT FOR PM/SNA LOFTIS, L/PM FOR HEROLD, EAP/MTS FOR
COMLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016
TAGS: ID KTIA MARR MOPS PREL
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN RESPONSE TO REVISED PROPOSED TEXT FOR A
STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT

REF: A. STATE 189860

B. JAKARTA 12547

Classified By: Political Officer Daniel Turnbull, for reasons 1.4 (b, d
).

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 013341

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/SNA LOFTIS, L/PM FOR HEROLD, EAP/MTS FOR
COMLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016
TAGS: ID KTIA MARR MOPS PREL
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN RESPONSE TO REVISED PROPOSED TEXT FOR A
STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT

REF: A. STATE 189860

B. JAKARTA 12547

Classified By: Political Officer Daniel Turnbull, for reasons 1.4 (b, d
).


1. (C) We delivered the revised text of the draft agreement
for a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Indonesia (ref
a) on November 15 to Harry Purwanto, Director for North and
Central American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DEPLU). We noted that the text had been revised with a view
to including it in the Joint Statement for the then upcoming
visit of President Bush to Indonesia on November 20. The
Joint Statement would state the joint decision of the United
States and Indonesia to begin formal negotiations toward a
SOFA. Purwanto said he would circulate the revised text to
appropriate agencies in that context. Purwanto informed us
later in the day that the government of Indonesia had decided
not to pursue formal negotiations but rather to continue
further "exploratory talks." The language of the Joint
Statement for the visit was revised accordingly to state the
two sides' "agreement to explore the possibility" of a SOFA.


2. (C) Giving his personal sense of what the likely GOI
position would be, Purwanto said that Indonesia was
interested primarily in an arrangement for humanitarian
relief from natural disasters. Indonesia would proceed from
the basis established in the temporary SOFA for disaster
relief in Aceh following the tsunami in December 2004 and the
Indonesia-proposed text for a SOFA following the Yogyakarta
earthquake earlier this year. (Note: The Aceh SOFA was kept
confidential at the request of the GOI and the Yogyakarta

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SOFA was never concluded.) Purwanto said he believed
Indonesia was willing to consider a permanent, stand-by
arrangement for humanitarian assistance but would have
difficulty moving beyond that because of public
sensitivities. We noted that other routine cooperation and
assistance activities, such as ship visits and exercises,
should also be covered by a SOFA.


3. (SBU) The GOI is clearly more comfortable at this point
with the idea of a SOFA of more limited scope. Nevertheless,
we think another round of discussions on Washington's revised
version would be worthwhile. We are prepared to organize
further discussions with Indonesian officials to proceed with
further exploratory talks. Department's guidance on timing
is requested.
PASCOE