AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON JAKARTA GOVERNOR SUTIYOSO

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000461

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ABLD AMGT ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON JAKARTA GOVERNOR SUTIYOSO


1. On February 16, Ambassador Pascoe, accompanied by DCM and
Management Counselor, paid his farewell call on Jakarta Governor
Sutiyoso. Sutiyoso was joined by several staff members including
his senior advisors on land issues from the historical preservation,
city planning and zoning offices.


2. The Ambassador thanked the Governor for his support over the past
two-plus years and the professionalism of his team, and asked for
his continued support of the Embassy's New Embassy Compound
proposal. Governor Sutiyoso advised that his staff had nearly
completed its review of our building proposals and would soon advise
of his office's approval in principle of our requests. He said he
did not see any major issues that would get in the way of his
approval.


3. The Governor then turned to the recent flooding in Jakarta, and
related that in light of the 13 rivers running into Jakarta, flood
control should be the responsibility of the central government. He
said that after the flooding of 2002 he had raised the issue of
flood control, but complained that the central government had not
taken his concerns seriously. Now, though, he said the government
is paying attention. The Governor expressed his concerns that
sanitation and health problems are the next phase of the flooding
situation, and called on businesses and the international community,
specifically the UN, to assist.

HEFFERN