INDONESIA CHAMPIONS ASIAN-AFRICAN SATELLITE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000007 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA ECPS TPHY PINR ECON ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA CHAMPIONS ASIAN-AFRICAN SATELLITE COOPERATION ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On November 26 - 27, Jakarta hosted the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Workshop on Satellite Technology and Its Applications. Experts, representatives and observers from eleven nations attended the conference to discuss potential areas of cooperation. The conference produced three-pages of recommendations for NAASP member states, including discussion of a roadmap to support the launch of an Afro-Asian satellite by 2017. END SUMMARY. Why Satellites? NAASP Background and Satellite Interest -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The NAASP was established during the Asia-Africa Summit in Jakarta in April, 2005 to focus on three broad areas of regional partnership: political solidarity, economic cooperation, and cultural relations with an overall emphasis on practical cooperation. The NAASP includes 89 countries from across the two continents. During the Durban Conference in September, 2006, members identified cooperation in satellite communication as a primary initiative. ¶3. (U) Muhammad Nuh, Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Information Technology opened the conference, emphasizing satellite cooperation is one of the most important implementations of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership. Minister Nuh explained that Indonesia was the first developing country to acquire its own domestic satellite system (PALAPA in 1976) noting, "We had a strong belief that the satellite system is just the right communication technology to unite our archipelagic country consisting of more than 17,000 islands and where no terrestrial means could ever reach in a relatively short time and be affordable to our country." ¶4. (U) Developing satellite technology is a priority for NAASP countries for the following reasons: -- Presents new opportunities for economic and social development. -- Promotes education by making distance-learning feasible. -- Provides advances in science and medicine by allowing greater cooperation through telecommunications. -- Enhances the capabilities of governments to deliver social services. -- Establishes decision support systems for disaster management, agriculture, security,and environmental monitoring. -- Presents turnkey solutions for communications in areas that are remote or lack the necessary infrastructure. Sky of Diamonds, but Asia Can Do More -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Conference attendees discussed both individual and bilateral achievements but only briefly focused on broader, multi-lateral perspectives. Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space Chairman Adi Sadewo stated that member states should share both benefits and costs of these programs. South African Director of Space Application and Satellite Communication Elliot Sibeko emphasized that the satellite market was a lucrative industry, stating that South Africa was already paying millions to foreign companies to provide telecommunications services and that a country could potentially profit from developing its own system. ¶6. (U) Dr. Sayed Mostafa Safavi Homami of the Iran Space Agency called for more regional participation from Asia when he noted, "This program should be done on a broader scale. Africa has demonstrated its willingness, but Asia should do more." He explained that the wealthier Asian countries should be willing to provide resources and expertise for the region as a whole. ¶7. (U) The conference produced a three-page document of recommendations for NAASP member states. Recommendations included forming networks of expertise or "centers of excellence" where advanced countries would share expertise with other developing nations. Delegates agreed to set up a joint task force in order to formulate "a roadmap" to support the launch of an Afro-Asian Satellite by 2017. The Cart Before the Horse? -------------- ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: Delegates spent two days discussing satellite technology, but didn't come up with many concrete recommendations. Although each delegation seemed keenly aware of how satellite technology benefits its own country, JAKARTA 00000007 002 OF 002 overall, the conference presented few cogent points regarding the benefits of satellite cooperation across the region. Delegates did not discuss reverse-engineering currently orbiting satellites for these programs nor did they discuss the need to develop a common launch system in order to place several satellites or an entire constellation in orbit. In short, the question must be asked, "How will they get them up there?" The conference was an important first step towards satellite cooperation, but failed to provide anything more substantial than stating broad, common goals. HUME