BIOSECURITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM MOU STATUS UPDATE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001409 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG, L/DL, EAP/EX, AND OES/IHA USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOJ for OFL GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN USDA/FAS/OSTA BRANT, ROSENBLUM USDA/APHIS ANNELLI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO EAGR AMGT PGOV ID KLIG SUBJECT: BIOSECURITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM MOU STATUS UPDATE REF: A) JAKARTA 01336 B) JAKARTA 01257 ¶1. (SBU) Andy Rachmianto at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) plans to host an interagency meeting in mid-August, with the Ministries of Health, Research and Technology, and Agriculture to identify any difficulties to approving the Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) MOU originally scheduled to be signed 26 June. (REF A) Rachmianto recommended that BEP hold off on sending large equipment intended for its partner institutions since the MOU primarily provides a tax exemption for equipment and other large purchases. ¶2. (SBU) Rachmianto suggested that Foreign Minister Wirajuda himself postponed the MOU signing after the BEP MOU was brought up during the 25 June hearing on NAMRU-2. (REF B) Rachmianto expressed disbelief that copies of the MOU had been circulated around Parliament. HUME