INDONESIA - TRILATERAL STRATEGIC ISSUES

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002743 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP DAS SMARCIEL, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP DEPT FOR AIAG FOR LANGE, PATTERSON TREASURY FOR IA-ABAUKOL SINGAPORE FOR TSA-SAHAGIAN TOKYO FOR MGREWE COMMERCE FOR 4430/BERLINGUETTE E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: EAIR KTFN KFLU PREL PTER PGOV ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA - TRILATERAL STRATEGIC ISSUES ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The missions of Australia, the U.S. and Japan in Indonesia, at a September 20 meeting, agreed to pursue several issues in close coordination, including avian influenza sample sharing, encouraging better Government of Indonesia (GOI) compliance with UN 1267 Al-Qaeda-related asset freezing, and air and port security. Other issues raised for further discussion include avoided deforestation and climate change and political outlook for the 2009 elections in Indonesia. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Australian Embassy hosted a meeting with the U.S. and Japan on September 20 to discuss trilateral strategic issues. The goal was to enhance existing cooperation and coordination beyond counter-terrorism. The three missions agreed to several areas of mutual cooperation, including to raise with the Government as Indonesia (GOI) as appropriate. These include: -- Urging the GOI to resume full avian influenza sample sharing. -- Encouraging better GOI compliance with UN 1267 Freezing of Al Qaeda-related assets. -- Approaching the GOI on permission for Australian and U.S. air marshals to bring weapons on flights and to store them securely at Indonesian airports between flights. -- Indonesia's political outlook for 2009 elections. ¶3. (SBU) On avian influenza sample sharing, all three missions discussed the fact that only 4 of the last 26 samples were shared, and of the 4, only one worked. The Japan Embassy said former Prime Minister Abe had raised it with the GOI and all agreed it is a vitally important issue. On the issue of UN 1267 asset freezing compliance, we decided to add this to the regular meetings of the Trilateral Counter-terrorism Group the U.S. Embassy already chairs with other missions. All three missions agreed to raise it as appropriate with the GOI. Australia had approximately 41 scheduled return flights to Indonesia each week and the U.S. only one (Continental Guam to Singapore),and agreed to take the lead on the air marshal issue. The U.S. has raised the issue with the GOI most recently. TSA hosted an Indonesia delegation to the U.S. to meet with Federal Air Marshals in August 2007 and has requested a follow on meeting for November with the GOI's Ministry of Transportation. ¶4. (SBU) On climate change, former Prime Minister Abe raised with the GOI, reducing greenhouse gases by half by 2050. Indonesia has 50% of the world's peat forests and avoided deforestation and reforestation are crucial. We agreed this would be a useful topic for discussion at future trilateral meetings. We also discussed ways to encourage Indonesia's constructive foreign policy role in the United Nations Security Council, the Middle East and Iran. HUME