REVIEW OF PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE POINTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002218 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, ISN/CPI (SIBLER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2017 TAGS: PREL PHSA KTFN PARM ID SUBJECT: REVIEW OF PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE POINTS WITH GOI REF: A. STATE 108671 ¶B. JAKARTA 2161 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Pol/C reviewed latest points concerning the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) with key GOI maritime expert Ambassador Hasyim Djalal. Djalal underscored that further review by the GOI was necessary, elaborating that the Yudhoyono administration was concerned that an outright endorsement of PSI could cause political problems at home at this time. Mission has also provided the points to DEPLU. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Pol/C on August 14 reviewed ref a points concerning PSI with Ambassador (ret.) Djalal, the GOI's main expert on maritime issues. Djalal commented that further "technical review" of the points was necessary. ¶3. (C) Pol/C emphasized that the points had been developed to address specific Indonesian questions re PSI and its "Statement of Interdiction Principles" raised in earlier meetings. As the GOI completed its review, it should consider that PSI required a policy decision that Indonesia would work to strengthen proliferation controls in coordination with partner countries. Any participation in PSI-related activities was voluntary and in line with UNSCR 1540 on preventing proliferation. ¶4. (C) Djalal responded that the GOI strongly opposed proliferation. President Yudnoyono, however, had received powerful domestic blowback from the DPR (legislature) and elsewhere for supporting UNSCR 1747 re the Iranian nuclear program. In light of that, it was problematic for the GOI to be seen as "collaborating directly" with the USG at this time. The Yudhoyono administration was also currently on the defensive because of its proposed bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Singapore, which had been portrayed by political opponents as undermining Indonesian sovereignty. Despite all that, Djalal promised, the GOI would continue to review and respond to proposals on PSI from the USG and its partners. ¶5. (SBU) Mission has also separately provided ref a points to Director for Political, Security and Territorial Treaties Arif Havas Oegroseno at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). The Australian Embassy on June 9 postponed the planned PSI working group with Indonesian counterparts (ref b) until a more convenient date can be found, possibly in September. Mission will report septel ISN PDAS McNerney's discussions on PSI and other issues during her visit to Jakarta on August 14. HUME