MIDDLE EAST -- SPECIAL ENVOY REVIEWS GOI'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003166

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, NEA, NEA/IR, NEA/IPA
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MNUC ID IR XF
SUBJECT: MIDDLE EAST -- SPECIAL ENVOY REVIEWS GOI'S
ENGAGEMENT ON IRAN, PEACE PROCESS

REF: A. JAKARTA 2968


B. JAKARTA 2475

Classified By: DCM John Heffern, reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On November 13 Indonesian Special Envoy for
Middle East issues Alwi Shihab told the DCM that Iran was
increasingly confident that it could proceed with its nuclear
program without serious international action. He also said
Indonesia continued to look for ways to support Palestinian
President Abbas and his government. In Septel, Mission will
request information regarding participation in the Annapolis
conference by countries outside of the immediate region,
which could be shared with Shihab and other Indonesian
interlocutors. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) A CONFIDENT IRAN: Alwi Shihab, a former foreign
minister who remains President Yudhoyono's confidant and
Special Envoy on the Middle East, told the DCM on November 13
that he recently visited Iran in preparation for VP Kalla's
planned trip there. (Note: VP Kalla planned to visit Iran,
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in late October but
canceled the whole trip due to illness.)


3. (C) Although the visit had focused on Indonesia-Iran
economic cooperation, particularly an Indonesian company's
investment in an Iranian fertilizer factory, Shihab had also
raised the nuclear issue with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister.
Tehran was increasingly confident that its cooperation with
the IAEA would deflect pressure for any stronger
international action against its nuclear program. The
Iranians believed that Russia and China would support them in
the UNSC, Shihab said. During a September visit to Jakarta
(ref B),Russian President Putin had told SBY he was
skeptical of U.S. claims that Iran's nuclear program aimed to
develop nuclear weapons, according to Shihab.


4. (C) The DCM responded that UNSC resolutions clearly
required Iran to halt all reprocessing activities. The P-5
and other UNSC members needed to remind Iran of its
obligations in this regard. Shihab responded that Indonesia
had delivered this message but had found Iran confident that
it would not face any serious penalty for continuing its
nuclear program.


5. (C) PEACE PROCESS: Shihab also noted that he would soon
visit London, perhaps in mid-December, to discuss ways to
help Palestinian President Abbas and his government.
According to Shihab, a group of British notables led by Lord
Jacobs, a Liberal-Democratic member of the House of Lords,
had approached Shihab as part of his effort to support the
Palestinian Authority without triggering the suspicion that
would accompany overt European assistance. Shihab pointed
out that although he consulted frequently with the Indonesian
government on Middle East Issues, this latter initiative was
not an official GOI mission. Still, he added, Indonesia was
seeking ways in which it could support the peace process.


6. (C) Regarding President Abbas' statement in Jakarta that
Indonesia was invited to participate in the upcoming
Annapolis conference (ref A),Shihab noted that Abbas was
particularly keen to enlist the support of non-Arab
Muslim-majority countries and had also asked Turkey and
Malaysia to participate. The GOI would be positive about
possible Indonesian participation, according to Shihab.


7. (C) Given his regular contact with President Yudhoyono on
Middle East issues, Alwi Shihab could be helpful in
influencing Yudhoyono's thinking on the Peace Process. In
Septel, Mission will request information regarding
participation in the Annapolis conference by countries
outside of the immediate region, which could be shared with
Shihab and other Indonesian interlocutors.

HUME