IRAQI OFFICIAL GETS CORDIAL WELCOME, BUT NO SOLID

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002539 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, NEA, NEA/IR, S/CT, INL E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ID IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI OFFICIAL GETS CORDIAL WELCOME, BUT NO SOLID COMMITMENTS Classified By: POL/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a just concluded visit to Jakarta, Iraqi DFM Labeed Abbawi made the rounds of high-level GOI officials as he sought Indonesian assistance in law enforcement and counter-terrorism. Abbawi also urged that Indonesia reopen its Embassy in Baghdad. The GOI gave Abbawi a cordial welcome and offered to train Iraqi police and government officials in Indonesia, but did not commit to any specific plan of action. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) IRAQI IN JAKARTA -- Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed M. Abbawi visited Jakarta September 8-11 where he met senior Indonesian officials, including FM Wirajuda and Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) Secretary General Imron Cotan. DFM Abbawi also spoke at Al-Azhar University of Indonesia and gave several press interviews. In his public comments, Abbawi praised Indonesia's counterterrorism successes and said Iraq could learn from Indonesia in the CT area. He also praised Indonesia's transition from an authoritarian government to a democracy as a model for Iraq and requested Indonesian training assistance for Iraqi government officials. ¶3. (C) NO SOLID COMMITMENTS -- A Special Assistant to SecGen Cotan told poloff that the GOI offered to train Iraqi police at the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in Semarang, Central Java. DEPLU also agreed to provide training for Iraqi diplomats at DEPLU's training facility. It did not, however, agree to any specific training program or schedule. Nor is it clear who would support and fund such training should it happen. ¶4. (C) OPEN YOUR EMBASSY AGAIN, PLEASE -- DFM Abbawi also pushed Indonesia to reopen its Embassy in Baghdad. GOI officials responded that they would wait for the security situation to improve before doing so. They also said that Indonesia currently does not own any chancery building in Baghdad nor any land upon which one could be built. (Note: The Indonesian Ambassador based in Syria is also accredited to Iraq.) ¶5. (C) CORDIAL MEETINGS -- Both Indonesian and Iraqi interlocutors stressed that the meetings were friendly and that bilateral relations were strong. The visit also received largely positive press coverage. The GOI seems to want to help Iraq with respect to technical assistance, but does not seem ready to move quickly. While Indonesians are generally sympathetic to the plight of Iraqis, the GOI's concerns about insecurity in Iraq will likely prevent any on-the-ground cooperation there anytime soon. HUME