Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA2344
2008-12-30 10:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR URGES SWIFT COMPLETION OF DEFENSE
how-toVZCZCXRO6783 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #2344 3651024 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301024Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1086 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5773 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3456 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1542 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1529 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0625 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2551 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5277 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2898 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3377 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002344
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EAP/MLS, PM, PM/PPA,
L, 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: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SWIFT COMPLETION OF DEFENSE
COOPERATION MOU
REF: JAKARTA 2210 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002344
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EAP/MLS, PM, PM/PPA,
L, 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: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SWIFT COMPLETION OF DEFENSE
COOPERATION MOU
REF: JAKARTA 2210 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Hume met December 30 with a key
GOI defense official and urged Indonesia to sign a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation with the United
States as quickly as possible. Indonesian officials hope to
complete their review of the U.S.-proposed text soon and are
keen to sign the MOU. END SUMMARY.
URGING SWIFT PROGRESS
2. (C) Ambassador Hume discussed the proposed U.S.-Indonesia
defense cooperation MOU with Major General Syarifudin Tippe,
Director General for Defense Strategy at the Department of
Defense (DEPHAN),on December 30. (Note: On December 5,
Mission had provided DEPHAN with the U.S. response to the
Indonesian-drafted MOU text--see reftel.) The Ambassador
underscored that the U.S.'s suggested changes to the MOU
retained the spirit of the original DEPHAN draft and
reflected both countries' preference for a nonbinding
agreement. He noted that the MOU formalized our already
ongoing defense cooperation activities and urged that we sign
it as soon as possible.
GOI EAGER TO SIGN
3. (C) Tippe, who met Defense Minister Sudarsono on the
matter earlier that same day, said DEPHAN's legal department
was still reviewing the text and hoped to complete it soon.
He noted that Minister Sudarsono was particularly pleased
that the USG had accepted the GOI's proposed title for the
document: "Memorandum of Understanding Between the
Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of
the United States of America on Cooperative Activities in the
Field of Defense." He did not have any other substantive
reactions to the U.S. text, but said that Indonesia was eager
to sign the MOU.
LEGISLATURE'S ROLE CLARIFIED
4. (C) Tippe explained that GOI officials believe that
DEPHAN has the authority to sign the MOU but would have to
report doing so to the Indonesian House of Representatives
(DPR). While the DPR had the right to review all GOI
agreements regarding defense, this review did not have to be
completed before DEPHAN signed the MOU. The Ambassador
agreed that this would allow us to move forward quickly.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EAP/MLS, PM, PM/PPA,
L, 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: 12/30/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV ID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES SWIFT COMPLETION OF DEFENSE
COOPERATION MOU
REF: JAKARTA 2210 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Hume met December 30 with a key
GOI defense official and urged Indonesia to sign a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation with the United
States as quickly as possible. Indonesian officials hope to
complete their review of the U.S.-proposed text soon and are
keen to sign the MOU. END SUMMARY.
URGING SWIFT PROGRESS
2. (C) Ambassador Hume discussed the proposed U.S.-Indonesia
defense cooperation MOU with Major General Syarifudin Tippe,
Director General for Defense Strategy at the Department of
Defense (DEPHAN),on December 30. (Note: On December 5,
Mission had provided DEPHAN with the U.S. response to the
Indonesian-drafted MOU text--see reftel.) The Ambassador
underscored that the U.S.'s suggested changes to the MOU
retained the spirit of the original DEPHAN draft and
reflected both countries' preference for a nonbinding
agreement. He noted that the MOU formalized our already
ongoing defense cooperation activities and urged that we sign
it as soon as possible.
GOI EAGER TO SIGN
3. (C) Tippe, who met Defense Minister Sudarsono on the
matter earlier that same day, said DEPHAN's legal department
was still reviewing the text and hoped to complete it soon.
He noted that Minister Sudarsono was particularly pleased
that the USG had accepted the GOI's proposed title for the
document: "Memorandum of Understanding Between the
Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of
the United States of America on Cooperative Activities in the
Field of Defense." He did not have any other substantive
reactions to the U.S. text, but said that Indonesia was eager
to sign the MOU.
LEGISLATURE'S ROLE CLARIFIED
4. (C) Tippe explained that GOI officials believe that
DEPHAN has the authority to sign the MOU but would have to
report doing so to the Indonesian House of Representatives
(DPR). While the DPR had the right to review all GOI
agreements regarding defense, this review did not have to be
completed before DEPHAN signed the MOU. The Ambassador
agreed that this would allow us to move forward quickly.
HUME