Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1636
2008-08-28 08:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
KEY CABINET OFFICIAL SEEKS TO EXPAND BILATERAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001636
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2018
TAGS: ID PGOV PREL SENV
SUBJECT: KEY CABINET OFFICIAL SEEKS TO EXPAND BILATERAL
COOPERATION
REF: JAKARTA 755
Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, for reasons 1.4 b+d
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001636
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2018
TAGS: ID PGOV PREL SENV
SUBJECT: KEY CABINET OFFICIAL SEEKS TO EXPAND BILATERAL
COOPERATION
REF: JAKARTA 755
Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, for reasons 1.4 b+d
1. (C) Summary: State Secretary Hatta Rajasa offered
recommendations on ways to strengthen U.S.-Indonesian
bilateral relations, particularly through the proposed
Defense Cooperation Agreement and an umbrella science and
technology agreement, during an August 27 meeting with
Ambassador Hume. Rajasa also offered to raise with President
Yudhoyono and Parliament the importance of Parliament's
endorsement of the Cape Town Treaty in order to secure
Export-Import Bank financing. Rajasa noted the political
season in both the U.S. and Indonesia and said that the 2009
Indonesian election will be much closer than in 2004. (See
septel regarding Rajasa's support for a President Yudhoyono
reply to the recent Senator Leahy letter on military reform.)
End Summary.
Support for Formalizing Bilateral Cooperation
--------------
2. (SBU) Rajasa began the meeting by passing along President
Yudhoyono's personal message that U.S.-Indonesian relations
are strong. Ambassador Hume noted the positive relations and
gradual improvement. The Ambassador asked Rajasa how the
U.S. and Indonesia could find ways to expand the bilateral
relationship. Rajasa supported moving forward with the
Indonesian-drafted Defense Cooperation Agreement and making
an initial draft of an umbrella science and technology
agreement. On the Defense Cooperation Agreement, Rajasa said
that he would raise this proposed agreement quietly with
members of Parliament. Rajasa, a former Minister for Science
and Technology, underscored the importance of U.S.
cooperation on a range of science and technology issues.
Ambassador Hume said that the Coral Triangle Initiative and
upcoming World Oceans Conference are opportunities to
demonstrate the improving U.S-Indonesian cooperation on
science and technology.
Pledge to Seek Parliament Endorsement of Cape Town Treaty
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Ambassador Hume raised the importance of
Parliamentary endorsement of the Cape Town Treaty to permit
concessional Export-Import Bank financing with U.S. aviation
companies, particularly the proposed Lion Air deal with
Boeing (reftel). Rajasa said that the GOI ratified the Cape
Town Treaty through Presidential decree. Ambassador Hume
noted that Parliamentary endorsement of this ratification was
needed by the Export-Import Bank to avoid potential legal
disputes due to conflicting executive and legislative
interpretations of aviation legislation. Rajasa, Minister of
Transportation before becoming State Secretary, offered to
raise this issue with the President and Parliamentary
leaders.
Interest in Elections in U.S. and Indonesia
--------------
4. (C) Rajasa noted that Indonesians are watching very
closely the U.S. presidential election. On the 2009
Indonesian elections, Rajasa said that the presidential
election would be closer than the 2004 elections due to a
stronger performance by Megawati Sukarnoputri. The upcoming
political season will be a "year of politics" and quite
"noisy," as is common in democratic countries, according to
Rajasa.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR EPHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2018
TAGS: ID PGOV PREL SENV
SUBJECT: KEY CABINET OFFICIAL SEEKS TO EXPAND BILATERAL
COOPERATION
REF: JAKARTA 755
Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, for reasons 1.4 b+d
1. (C) Summary: State Secretary Hatta Rajasa offered
recommendations on ways to strengthen U.S.-Indonesian
bilateral relations, particularly through the proposed
Defense Cooperation Agreement and an umbrella science and
technology agreement, during an August 27 meeting with
Ambassador Hume. Rajasa also offered to raise with President
Yudhoyono and Parliament the importance of Parliament's
endorsement of the Cape Town Treaty in order to secure
Export-Import Bank financing. Rajasa noted the political
season in both the U.S. and Indonesia and said that the 2009
Indonesian election will be much closer than in 2004. (See
septel regarding Rajasa's support for a President Yudhoyono
reply to the recent Senator Leahy letter on military reform.)
End Summary.
Support for Formalizing Bilateral Cooperation
--------------
2. (SBU) Rajasa began the meeting by passing along President
Yudhoyono's personal message that U.S.-Indonesian relations
are strong. Ambassador Hume noted the positive relations and
gradual improvement. The Ambassador asked Rajasa how the
U.S. and Indonesia could find ways to expand the bilateral
relationship. Rajasa supported moving forward with the
Indonesian-drafted Defense Cooperation Agreement and making
an initial draft of an umbrella science and technology
agreement. On the Defense Cooperation Agreement, Rajasa said
that he would raise this proposed agreement quietly with
members of Parliament. Rajasa, a former Minister for Science
and Technology, underscored the importance of U.S.
cooperation on a range of science and technology issues.
Ambassador Hume said that the Coral Triangle Initiative and
upcoming World Oceans Conference are opportunities to
demonstrate the improving U.S-Indonesian cooperation on
science and technology.
Pledge to Seek Parliament Endorsement of Cape Town Treaty
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) Ambassador Hume raised the importance of
Parliamentary endorsement of the Cape Town Treaty to permit
concessional Export-Import Bank financing with U.S. aviation
companies, particularly the proposed Lion Air deal with
Boeing (reftel). Rajasa said that the GOI ratified the Cape
Town Treaty through Presidential decree. Ambassador Hume
noted that Parliamentary endorsement of this ratification was
needed by the Export-Import Bank to avoid potential legal
disputes due to conflicting executive and legislative
interpretations of aviation legislation. Rajasa, Minister of
Transportation before becoming State Secretary, offered to
raise this issue with the President and Parliamentary
leaders.
Interest in Elections in U.S. and Indonesia
--------------
4. (C) Rajasa noted that Indonesians are watching very
closely the U.S. presidential election. On the 2009
Indonesian elections, Rajasa said that the presidential
election would be closer than the 2004 elections due to a
stronger performance by Megawati Sukarnoputri. The upcoming
political season will be a "year of politics" and quite
"noisy," as is common in democratic countries, according to
Rajasa.
HUME