Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA2210
2008-12-05 10:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
DCM DISCUSSES DRAFT DEFENSE COOPERATION MOU WITH
how-toVZCZCXRO9454 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #2210 3401038 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051038Z DEC 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0894 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3377 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2816 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3316 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5204 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5704 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2485 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1490 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1474 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0620 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002210
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, L, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, PM, PM/PPA, L/T,
L/DL, L/PM
SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/APSP D.WALTON AND OGC
JOINT STAFF FOR R.CARTER
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: DCM DISCUSSES DRAFT DEFENSE COOPERATION MOU WITH
INDONESIAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL
REF: JAKARTA 2067
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4(b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002210
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, L, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, PM, PM/PPA, L/T,
L/DL, L/PM
SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/APSP D.WALTON AND OGC
JOINT STAFF FOR R.CARTER
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: DCM DISCUSSES DRAFT DEFENSE COOPERATION MOU WITH
INDONESIAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL
REF: JAKARTA 2067
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 5, Deputy Chief of Mission met
with Director General for Defense Strategy MG Syarifudin
Tippe at the Department of Defense (DEPHAN) to review the
Indonesian proposal and U.S. response regarding an
understanding on defense cooperation. DCM urged conclusion
as soon as possible and stressed the U.S. preference for a
nonbinding agreement. Tippe welcomed the U.S. counterdraft
and promised to push the process forward with GOI agencies
for an early conclusion. END SUMMARY.
NONBINDING AGREEMENT
2. (C) DCM said the United States welcomed the Indonesian
initiative to formalize current and future bilateral defense
cooperation. He explained that the USG preferred a
nonbinding document in the hope it would not require
ratification by either legislature. Also, a nonbinding
document would help to fulfil MinDef Sudarsono's preference,
mentioned in an earlier discussion with Ambassador Hume
(reftel),that the document avoid conveying a sense of
alignment. Washington had therefore titled the document a
Memorandum of Understanding rather than an Agreement.
Washington had also altered the terminology reflecting a
voluntary cooperation ("participants" instead of "parties,"
"should" vice "shall," and so forth). We made clear that any
funding was entirely voluntary. DCM urged that the document
be finalized now, to maintain momentum.
KEY CHANGES
3. (C) DCM explained the few substantive changes in the
Washington draft. Key among these was the designation of the
Joint Strategic Defense Committee (Article IV) as the
coordinating body for the MOU, replacing the annual
Indonesia-United States Strategic Dialogue (IUSSD). The
U.S.-proposed IPR language (Article V) mirrored that in other
agreements and therefore already approved. The provisions
conditioning the sharing of information and transfer of
equipment (Article VI) were consistent with the existing
Section 505 Agreement and other agreements between the two
countries.
ROLE FOR INDONESIAN LEGISLATURE
4. (C) Tippe generally accepted the U.S.-proposed changes as
an improvement in wording or rationale while preserving the
intent and spirit of the original DEPHAN proposal. He said
that the U.S. draft would be reviewed interagency. He said
the original Indonesian proposal was based on a template that
had been previously approved by DEPLU for all such bilateral
understandings. Because the agreement would deal with
defense issues, he added, the Indonesian legislature (DPR)
would have some role. Tippe promised to move the interagency
process along quickly in the hope of signing the agreement in
the next several weeks.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, L, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, PM, PM/PPA, L/T,
L/DL, L/PM
SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/APSP D.WALTON AND OGC
JOINT STAFF FOR R.CARTER
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: DCM DISCUSSES DRAFT DEFENSE COOPERATION MOU WITH
INDONESIAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL
REF: JAKARTA 2067
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4(b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 5, Deputy Chief of Mission met
with Director General for Defense Strategy MG Syarifudin
Tippe at the Department of Defense (DEPHAN) to review the
Indonesian proposal and U.S. response regarding an
understanding on defense cooperation. DCM urged conclusion
as soon as possible and stressed the U.S. preference for a
nonbinding agreement. Tippe welcomed the U.S. counterdraft
and promised to push the process forward with GOI agencies
for an early conclusion. END SUMMARY.
NONBINDING AGREEMENT
2. (C) DCM said the United States welcomed the Indonesian
initiative to formalize current and future bilateral defense
cooperation. He explained that the USG preferred a
nonbinding document in the hope it would not require
ratification by either legislature. Also, a nonbinding
document would help to fulfil MinDef Sudarsono's preference,
mentioned in an earlier discussion with Ambassador Hume
(reftel),that the document avoid conveying a sense of
alignment. Washington had therefore titled the document a
Memorandum of Understanding rather than an Agreement.
Washington had also altered the terminology reflecting a
voluntary cooperation ("participants" instead of "parties,"
"should" vice "shall," and so forth). We made clear that any
funding was entirely voluntary. DCM urged that the document
be finalized now, to maintain momentum.
KEY CHANGES
3. (C) DCM explained the few substantive changes in the
Washington draft. Key among these was the designation of the
Joint Strategic Defense Committee (Article IV) as the
coordinating body for the MOU, replacing the annual
Indonesia-United States Strategic Dialogue (IUSSD). The
U.S.-proposed IPR language (Article V) mirrored that in other
agreements and therefore already approved. The provisions
conditioning the sharing of information and transfer of
equipment (Article VI) were consistent with the existing
Section 505 Agreement and other agreements between the two
countries.
ROLE FOR INDONESIAN LEGISLATURE
4. (C) Tippe generally accepted the U.S.-proposed changes as
an improvement in wording or rationale while preserving the
intent and spirit of the original DEPHAN proposal. He said
that the U.S. draft would be reviewed interagency. He said
the original Indonesian proposal was based on a template that
had been previously approved by DEPLU for all such bilateral
understandings. Because the agreement would deal with
defense issues, he added, the Indonesian legislature (DPR)
would have some role. Tippe promised to move the interagency
process along quickly in the hope of signing the agreement in
the next several weeks.
HUME