ABBAS VISIT -- INDONESIA SUPPORTS PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002968 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR P, EAP, EAP/MTS, NEA, NEA/IPA, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC ID XF SUBJECT: ABBAS VISIT -- INDONESIA SUPPORTS PEACE CONFERENCE, SIGNS AGREEMENTS REF: JAKARTA 2966 JAKARTA 00002968 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request. Please see Para 10. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas visited Jakarta October 21-23 for meetings with President Yudhoyono and other senior Indonesian officials. Abbas solicited Indonesian participation at the November peace conference in the U.S. The GOI pledged support for Palestinian statehood and U.S. efforts to convene a peace conference. Indonesia also proposed a separate conference to discuss "capacity-building" assistance for the Palestinians. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) PALESTINIAN "STATE" VISIT: President Yudhoyono received Abbas October 22 with the full trappings of a state visit, including the playing of national anthems and a 21-gun salute. Yudhoyono was accompanied by seven cabinet ministers, including FM Wirajuda. Abbas also met leaders of the Indonesian legislature (DPR) and Consultative Council (MPR),and met FM Wirajuda together with Indonesian religious leaders. Abbas concluded the visit with a speech on October ¶23. Abbas was accompanied by his advisors for foreign affairs and information. ¶4. (C) AN AWKWARD INVITATION?: A contact in the president's office confirmed that Abbas had reiterated his appeal for Indonesian participation in some capacity in the prospective Middle East peace conference and said Yudhoyono had not made a decision on participation. In an October 23 meeting with Pol/C, Theo Sambuaga, the Chair of the DPR's Commission I focused on foreign affairs, participated in a meeting with Abbas in which he said the Palestinian leader underscored "the importance" of GOI participation in the conference. ¶5. (SBU) PLEDGES OF SUPPORT: Abbas and Yudhoyono signed a "joint declaration" and approved several cooperation agreements, which were signed by various ministers, covering: -- diplomatic consultation and development; -- development of human resources, education and exchanges; and, -- sister-city cooperation between Metropolitan Jakarta and Jerusalem. ¶6. (C) During the joint press conference with Yudhoyono, Abbas thanked Indonesia for its support of the Palestinian ;people and welcomed the statements and agreements signed between the two leaders as strengthening relations between "the two states." He said Hamas was "a part of the Palestinian people" and that Fatah and Abbas had to work together. Presidential Adviser T.B. Silalahi told poloff that Yudhoyono's lead talking point in the one-on-one meeting with SBY was the need for reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. Without that, the Quartet and other international efforts could make little progress. Theo Sambuaga of the DPR told Pol/C that Abbas seemed "very worried about Hamas" during the meeting he participated in. ¶7. (SBU) Yudhoyono said Indonesia had for years supported the "struggle of the Palestinian nation for statehood, sovereignty and international recognition." He welcomed the U.S. initiative for a peace conference and said Indonesia was participating in other parallel efforts, including one with South Africa and other Asian and African countries to support Palestinian capacity-building. The two leaders also signed a joint statement. (Note -- Mission will try to obtain a copy of the statement to forward to EAP/MTS.) ¶8. (SBU) ABBAS GOES PUBLIC: Abbas took his case directly to the Indonesian people in an October 23 speech and also an interview in the Jakarta Post (text provided reftel). In both fora, he reiterated support for Indonesia's JAKARTA 00002968 002.2 OF 002 participation in the peace conference. In the speech, which the Ambassador attended, Abbas listed the invitees as the Quartet, the G-8, ten members of the Arab League, Malaysia, Turkey and Indonesia. He added that, in his view, Greece, South Africa, India and Brazil should also be invited. ¶9. (C) PUNDIT SKEPTICAL: On October 22, Rizal Sukma, Deputy Director of Jakarta's Center for Strategic and International Studies and a leader of mainstream Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, told DCM the presidential palace had a much grander view of Indonesia's potential role in the Middle East. The Department of Foreign Affairs, (DEPLU),in contrast, had a much more realistic sense of the problem and of Indonesia's role. Rizal expressed doubt that Indonesia could contribute substantively to the effort. The Arab world did not respect Indonesia's views and would not find its efforts useful. For example, Egypt had held a follow-on conference of Islamic leaders after Indonesia's and had not even invited Indonesia. Moreover, since Indonesia did not recognize Israel, Indonesia would not be seen as even-handed. ¶10. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Several contacts have asked us about the USG's views re possible Indonesian participation in a U.S.-hosted Middle East peace conference. We request Department's guidance as to whether Indonesia has in fact been invited, and how we should respond to our contacts and the media on this issue. END ACTION REQUEST. HUME