AUSTRALIA-ROK-INDONESIA TRILATERAL DISCUSSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000855

SIPDIS
NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/ANP, EAP/K, EAP/MTS
PACOM FOR POLAD PICUTTA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KS ID AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA-ROK-INDONESIA TRILATERAL DISCUSSION

Classified by Pol/Econ Counselor Edgard Kagan for reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C/NF) An inaugural trilateral held in Canberra on September 9
between Australia, the ROK and Indonesia resulted in a vehicle still
in search of an idea. While the concept has strong support from the
heads of government, the trilateral discussion was wide ranging and
did not produce substantive results. The ROK would like to become
more involved in Southeast Asia and Australia and Indonesia see this
as a chance to deepen their involvement in the Korean peninsula. End
Summary.

A Vehicle in Search of an Idea
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2. (C/NF) A September 9 trilateral meeting between Australia, the
Republic of Korea (ROK) and Indonesia aimed to test the waters for a
more structured meeting between foreign ministers or heads of
government on the margins of a future summit. According to Dave
Sharma, Director of the Indonesia section in Australia's Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),the Koreans initiated the
trilateral, but a strong relationship between the three heads of
government was the driving force. DFAT's Deputy Secretary and
Ambassador to ASEAN Gillian Bird, ROK Deputy-Foreign Minister Lee
Yong-joong, and Indonesia's Director General for Asia-Pacific and
African Affairs Hamzah Thayeb (formerly Ambassador in Canberra)
participated in the one hour meeting.


3. (C/NF) According to Sharma, the three countries discussed a range
of issues including strengthening the role of the G-20, climate
change, regional architecture and coordinating regulation and
financial reforms in the wake of the global slowdown. Discussions
did not lead to action items or resolutions. Sharma said he was
surprised by the uncharacteristic ROK suggestion to avoid concept
papers, or even an agenda, in order to pursue a "free-flowing
discussion."

Motivations
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4. (C/NF) Sharma noted that the ROK is looking to become more
involved in Southeast Asia and sees Australia and Indonesia as the
two logical partners. Indonesia, in turn, expressed interest in
greater involvement in North Asian affairs, particularly concerning
disarmament in the Korean peninsula. Sharma stated that Australia
would "not be opposed" to playing a greater role in supporting
stability in the Korean peninsula, but acknowledged that the GOA's
role is necessarily limited as it is not a member of the six-party
talks.


5. (C/NF) ROK Jakarta Embassy Political Counselor Kim Gunn, who
traveled to Canberra to participate in the meeting, told us that the
initiative was the product of a long discussion between PM Rudd and
ROK President Lee Myung Bak during Lee's March visit. Lee and Rudd
hit it off so well that Rudd asked Lee to come to his house for an
after-dinner drink, which turned into a free-wheeling two hour
session that led to the idea of a trilat with Indonesia. Lee went on
to Jakarta the next day and was surprised to hear President Yudhoyono
say that Rudd had called to extol the ROK President and urge
Indonesia to agree to a trilat. Kim said that President Lee had
QIndonesia to agree to a trilat. Kim said that President Lee had
personally told him to "make this happen," stressing his desire to
build on his relationship with Rudd as well as build a partnership
with Yudhoyono. Kim said that Indonesian MFA officials were clearly
surprised by their President's support for the idea, reluctant to
move forward but came around when it became clear that Yudhoyono was
serious about the idea.

Comment
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6. (C/NF) This first trilateral discussion was relatively informal
and we were left with the impression that the Australians are open to
future discussions, but not necessarily eager to take a leading role.
It is also unclear just how motivated the Indonesians are in
pursuing this trilateral given the strong relationship that already

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exists with Australia. Post notes that the idea for holding the
trilateral likely grew out of extensive conversations President Lee
Myung-Bak had with Prime Minister Rudd during Lee's recent visit to
Australia. Unless the trilateral meetings find an idea to power the
vehicle, future discussions may continue to be short and relatively
insubstantial.

CLUNE