PIRACY RESOLUTION -- INDONESIA OUTLINES CONCERNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002263 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, AF, AF/E, IO, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: PREL PHSA UNSC ID SO SUBJECT: PIRACY RESOLUTION -- INDONESIA OUTLINES CONCERNS REF: MARCIEL/MULL-HEFFERN EMAIL DECEMBER 13 Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 14, as requested per ref, DCM discussed Somali piracy with the senior GOI official responsible for United Nations matters. DCM underscored the seriousness of the piracy threat and urged Indonesia to support a strong UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that granted new authorities to international anti-piracy efforts. The GOI interlocutor said Indonesia wanted to be constructive, but was concerned about international cooperation with the Somali Transitional Federal Government and wanted to limit the duration of the resolution's effect. Indonesia looked forward to further consultations on the matter in New York. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The DCM discussed the latest Somali piracy resolution with Ambassador Rezlan Ishar Jenie, Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DPELU),on December 14. (Note: Ambassador Rezlan is the GOI's senior-most official responsible for UN matters and former PermRep in New York.) The DCM noted the continued increase in piracy incidents near Somalia--many of them far offshore. This situation required a UNSC resolution granting new authority for international anti-piracy operations in the region. ¶3. (C) Rezlan responded that Indonesia wanted to play a constructive role in this matter. He outlined three "principles" that the GOI believed must be part of any resolution on this matter: --International forces can only take military action on land following a specific request from the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG); --Throughout the implementation of the resolution, international forces must coordinate closely and regularly with the TFG; and, --The resolution must apply to a limited timeframe and not be open-ended. Rezlan reiterated Indonesia's commitment to playing a constructive role on this matter and said the GOI looked forward to further consultations on the resolution's text in New York. HUME