NAVY CHIEF AGREES TO SULAWESI SEA RADAR PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000083 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, T, PM, PM/PPA, ISN, ISN/CPI SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/AP CLAD/TOOLAN/WALTON/IPSEN JOINT STAFF J5 FOR WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2018 TAGS: PREL MASS PTER EWWT ID SUBJECT: NAVY CHIEF AGREES TO SULAWESI SEA RADAR PROGRAM Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Ambassador Hume, new Indonesian Navy Chief Admiral Sumardjono pledged to resolve outstanding difficulties regarding the emplacement of surveillance radars in the Malacca Strait with U.S. security assistance under Section 1206, and accepted the U.S. plan for emplacement of surveillance radars in the Sulawesi Sea. These overall agreements meet fiscal implementation requirements, breaking a major deadlock which had threatened to torpedo two promising maritime security assistance initiatives and constrain future cooperation. Sumardjono's appointment (November 2007) appears to have eased our access to an organization which traditionally has been difficult to engage. END SUMMARY. FUNDING DEADLINES ¶2. (C) Noting this was his initial call on Sumardjono, Ambassador said the United States appreciated the importance and uniqueness of Indonesia's strategic position on international waterways. In addition to being one of only a few countries located between two oceans, Indonesia had international maritime traffic traveling through it as well. Those waterways had become increasingly important over the past two centuries. The United States wanted to cooperate with Indonesia toward shared objectives. Enormous changes had occurred in Indonesia over the past decade. The United States' relationship with Indonesia had undergone a similar transformation during the same period. Both countries should put the past behind them and look toward the future. ¶3. (C) Ambassador expressed the hope that outstanding technical issues on cooperation in the Malacca Strait could be resolved quickly, as legislative deadlines required closure by January 16. Embassy was prepared to discuss further its program strategy for the Sulawesi Sea area, but had to send an answer to Washington by the end of January. The United States would be as flexible as possible and would like to share information that it had on activities of concern in the Sulawesi Sea. INDONESIA ACCEPTS SULAWESI SEA FOCUS ¶4. (C) Sumardjono said FM Wirajuda had called the previous ;week and asked the Indonesian Navy to do what it could to accommodate the U.S. request. There were two aspects to consider: protecting international waterways, and combatting terrorism. Indonesia's natural emphasis was on the former, but wanted to support both objectives. Sumardjono said he had instructed his staff to meet with Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation during the week to iron out technical difficulties the radars in the Malacca Strait. The problem, which was largely one of funding, had been reported to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. In the Malacca Strait, all but three of the ten tower sites had been identified. Sumardjono noted that the limited range of the radars would leave some gaps in coverage. Ambassador explained that this was due to limits in the program budget. In regard to the Sulawesi Sea, Indonesia preferred to secure the Makassar Strait first, as the Embassy was aware, but was willing to accept the United States' focus on the triborder areas near the southern Philippines and eastern Malaysia. ¶5. (C) Ambassador thanked Sumardjono for this announcement and Indonesia's willingness to accommodate U.S. parameters on this program. The Embassy would work together with the Indonesian Navy and would do everything possible to facilitate the successful completion of the program. Both countries had a strong interest in ensuring cooperation in regional maritime security. Sumardjono said Indonesia would need assistance with operation and maintenance of the radars, and the Ambassador said he had every expectation this should be forthcoming. SUMARDJONO SIGNALS CLOSER COOPERATION ¶6. (C) The Ambassador's meeting with Admiral Sumardjono was JAKARTA 00000083 002 OF 002 clearly facilitated by Ambassador's discussion with FM Wirajuda on January 9, to which Sumardjono referred in the January 14 discussion. That said, Sumardjono, who was named Navy Chief in November 2007, was engaged and responsive throughout the meeting. Despite the references to the call from Wirajuda, he seemed to be fully on board with the undertaking to resolve technical issues on the Malacca Strait and to accept the U.S. concept of the Sulawesi Sea program. Indonesia's stated priority on international commercial navigation makes the Malacca Strait program the more attractive of the two for Indonesia. Sumardjono's willingness to accept and support U.S. counterterrorism priorities in the more remote Sulawesi Sea is a major gesture of goodwill, one we would like to repay in kind. We take this positive outcome as an indication that Sumardjono is prepared to work constructively with Embassy and with United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) to advance shared maritime security objectives in the region. Sumardjono's appointment appears to have eased our access to the Indonesian Navy, an organization which traditionally has been the most difficult of the services to engage. HUME