INDONESIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PLANS WASHINGTON VISIT

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000947

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PLANS WASHINGTON VISIT



1. (SBU) On April 2, we received the following letter dated
March 28, 2007 from Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono:

The Honorable John Heffern
Charge d'Affaires/Deputy Ambassador
Embassy of the United States of AMERICA
Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-4
Jakarta 10110

Dear Deputy Ambassador:

I am pleased to inform you that between April 15-18, 2007, I
plan to visit Washington DC to follow up and consolidate
agreement between our two governments in enhancing
cooperative activities in the field of defense, I leave
Washington DC 18 April for Rome, Italy.

The focus of my visit will be to explain the defense and
military reforms in the light of the lifting of restrictions
on military equipment from the United States to the defense
force of Indonesia, more specifically the reform of the
Indonesia Special Forces (Kopassus).

I will also explain to commitment of the Defense Force to
support graduated political and economic democratization as
our government plans to emphasize equitable growth,
employment generation and reduce poverty.

Between 16-17 April I would hope to be able to meet with
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and possibly with Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice, as well as selected members of the
US Senate and House of Representatives.

Please accept, Deputy Ambassador, the assurances of my
highest consideration.

Sincerely,
Juwono Sudarsono
Minister of Denfese

End Note


2. (SBU) Given the short time frame of the proposed visit,
we request instructions on how to reply to the Minister,
notably on the request for meetings with the Secretaries of
Defense and State.
HEFFERN