Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA6912
2006-06-01 10:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR LOBBIES FOREIGN MINISTER ON SOFA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJA #6912 1521040 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011040Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5124 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 006912
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS EAID PREL KTIA ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LOBBIES FOREIGN MINISTER ON SOFA
REF: A. STATE 88273
B. STATE 87329
C. JAKARTA 6773
D. JAKARTA 6770
E. JAKARTA 6656
F. STATE 86516
Classified By: Amb. B. Lynn Pascoe, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 006912
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS EAID PREL KTIA ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LOBBIES FOREIGN MINISTER ON SOFA
REF: A. STATE 88273
B. STATE 87329
C. JAKARTA 6773
D. JAKARTA 6770
E. JAKARTA 6656
F. STATE 86516
Classified By: Amb. B. Lynn Pascoe, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a June 1 meeting with Foreign Minister
Wirajuda (other subjects septel),the Ambassador noted that
while the presence of U.S. military personnel in Yogyakarta
for earthquake relief is expected to be short, the United
States considers a SOFA important to cover those deployments.
For that reason, we had suggested having a brief exchange of
notes repeating what we had previously done in 2005. The
Ambassador said that that the U.S. would be pleased to pursue
a more general SOFA in conjunction with our expanded military
exchanges, adding that there had been preliminary discussions
in bilateral meetings about the possibility, but doing a
simple document now was the only realistic approach given the
short time frame involved.
2. (C) The Minister said that the GOI would be open-minded
and be willing to explore the possibility of a broader SOFA.
As for the present situation he noted that since the
deployment time would be so short, it might be best to have
no SOFA at all. The Ambassador rejoined that such a document
was very important to the United States in case there was an
accident or other incident. The Minister's response was
non-committal.
3. (C) Subsequent to the meeting, PolCouns and North America
director Harry Purwanto spoke about the possibility of
returning to the approach adopted during previous
humanitarian crises. Purwanto ducked, saying that he would
have to discuss the issue with Ministry lawyers. He added
that he had thought all along that the issue of establishing
a SOFA would not be possible given the expected short
timeframe of the presence of the American military forces,
and the desire of attorneys to include points they considered
important.
PASCOE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS EAID PREL KTIA ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LOBBIES FOREIGN MINISTER ON SOFA
REF: A. STATE 88273
B. STATE 87329
C. JAKARTA 6773
D. JAKARTA 6770
E. JAKARTA 6656
F. STATE 86516
Classified By: Amb. B. Lynn Pascoe, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) During a June 1 meeting with Foreign Minister
Wirajuda (other subjects septel),the Ambassador noted that
while the presence of U.S. military personnel in Yogyakarta
for earthquake relief is expected to be short, the United
States considers a SOFA important to cover those deployments.
For that reason, we had suggested having a brief exchange of
notes repeating what we had previously done in 2005. The
Ambassador said that that the U.S. would be pleased to pursue
a more general SOFA in conjunction with our expanded military
exchanges, adding that there had been preliminary discussions
in bilateral meetings about the possibility, but doing a
simple document now was the only realistic approach given the
short time frame involved.
2. (C) The Minister said that the GOI would be open-minded
and be willing to explore the possibility of a broader SOFA.
As for the present situation he noted that since the
deployment time would be so short, it might be best to have
no SOFA at all. The Ambassador rejoined that such a document
was very important to the United States in case there was an
accident or other incident. The Minister's response was
non-committal.
3. (C) Subsequent to the meeting, PolCouns and North America
director Harry Purwanto spoke about the possibility of
returning to the approach adopted during previous
humanitarian crises. Purwanto ducked, saying that he would
have to discuss the issue with Ministry lawyers. He added
that he had thought all along that the issue of establishing
a SOFA would not be possible given the expected short
timeframe of the presence of the American military forces,
and the desire of attorneys to include points they considered
important.
PASCOE