Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA1576
2007-10-26 07:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIA COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ASIA PACIFIC

Tags:  PGOV PHUM AS 
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cc:
AMCONSUL MELBOURNE
AMCONSUL PERTH
AMCONSUL SYDNEY
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
AMEMBASSY MANILA
o 260713Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8469
INFO AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY MANILA IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001576 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G, EAP/ANP AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ASIA PACIFIC
DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP

REF: A. STATE 148559

B. CANBERRA 1417

C. STATE 131561

D. WHITON-COLE E-MAIL OF 10/18/2007


Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b),(d
).

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001576

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G, EAP/ANP AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN ASIA PACIFIC
DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP

REF: A. STATE 148559

B. CANBERRA 1417

C. STATE 131561

D. WHITON-COLE E-MAIL OF 10/18/2007


Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b),(d
).


1. (U) Arthur Spyrou, Director of the United Nations and
Commonwealth Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, confirmed to POLCOUNS during an October 26 meeting
that Australia was commited to participate in the Asia
Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP). Jonathan Richardson,
Australia's High Commissioner to Ghana, who would be
attending the Community of Democracies meeting in Mali, would
represent Australia at the proposed November 15 APDP
breakfast meeting in Bamako and would be prepared to engage
in a robust exchange of views. (Australia does not maintain
a mission in Mali.)


2. (C) While Australia viewed the initiative positively and
believed it had a place among other democracy initiatives in
the region, Spyrou commented, other countries were concerned
how the APDP would fit into the regional architecture.
Spyrou said South Korea, which had invested heavily in the
CD, had expressed considerable angst to Australia about how
the APDP would work and its relationship to existing and
proposed programs. For example, the South Koreans were
concerned about how the APDP tracked with a similar
initiatives developed by Japan and Indonesia. (Note: Spyrou
said he had been unable to develop any information about a
Japanese democracy initiative and would appreciate whatever
the U.S. could share on this. End note.) Spyrou was quick
to add the South Koreans did not seem to be saying "Put on
the brakes" but simply flagging the need to proceed with
caution to avoid stepping on any toes.


3. (C) Spyrou noted that Foreign Minister Downer and
Secretary Rice had shared preliminary thoughts on APDP

SIPDIS
activities, such as small-scale capacity-building projects,
during their bilateral meeting on the margins of APEC in
Sydney in September. Although the APDP was an American
initiative, Australia agreed that it would be important to
identify an Asian country that could take leadership of it,
Spyrou commented. He queried whether the United States had
identified an Asian champion of the program. POLCOUNS noted
the United States supported Indonesia hosting the inaugural
APDP meeting. Spyrou said Australia would strongly endorse
Indonesia, which had conducted democratic elections and which
would have the added advantage of helping to bring along the
other ASEAN members. It would be particularly important to
generate high-level buy-in to the APDP before the end of the
year, he observed, otherwise participation would be relegated
to lower-level officials, guaranteeing that he initiative
would be "stillborn." In regard to specific projects, it
would be desirable to give countries "ownership" of projects
they suggested, a tactic that the UN was increasingly
embracing, Spyrou added.


4. (C) On the question of APDP membership, Spyrou noted,
South Korea favored a restricted membership, at least
initially, in order to avoid contending with "difficult"
countries whose commitment to democracy was questionable.
For Australia's part, he added, the membership question could
be reserved for later discussion. Likewise, he said, it
would be best to set aside for now the China-Taiwan question,
which may develop a head of steam.


5. (C) Spyrou said Australia planned to play a role in
helping to allay regional concerns about the APDP. He
invited U.S. views on other possible roles for Australia in
advance of the Parnership's launch, adding the caveat that
the caretaker status of the Australian government in advance
of the November 24 federal election meant the GOA would be
constrained from agreeing to any major new policies or
programs.


MCCALLUM