NAMRU 2 PATH FORWARD: PROPOSED JUNE 16

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001006 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, OES/AIAG USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED KFLU EAGR AMGT MASS PGOV ID, SUBJECT: NAMRU 2 PATH FORWARD: PROPOSED JUNE 16 MEETING REF: A) Jakarta 1001 B) State 59451 C) Jakarta 969 ¶1. (U) This is an action cable. Please see paragraph ¶5. This message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) Despite the postponement of her planned Washington trip, Indonesian Health Minister Supari is still keen to explore deepening our health cooperation. Ministry of Health advisors Dr. Widjaja Lukito and Ambassador Makarim Wibisono told us on June 12 that Minister Supari plans to reschedule her trip to the United States in July, after Indonesian Presidential elections. She wants to discuss broader health cooperation under the Comprehensive Partnership. She is particularly interested in a joint Indonesian-U.S. research laboratory that could be developed from the current NAMRU operation, but with shared leadership by the U.S. and Indonesian health ministries. ¶3. (SBU) Minister Supari understands that NAMRU visas expire on June 30 and that the laboratory will close unless visas are extended, thereby ending discussions for a joint laboratory. However, she is one of three ministers who are closely following NAMRU issues. In order for her to advocate extending NAMRU's visas beyond June 30, she needs to show the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) and other agencies that discussions for a new joint laboratory have started between Washington and her staff. She wishes to send both Dr. Widjaja and Ambassador Wibisono to Washington on June 16 for an exploratory meeting that will follow-up on Secretary Clinton's meeting with Foreign Minister Wirayuda (Ref B). This meeting would allow for preliminary discussions of a joint laboratory and other ways to strengthen our health cooperation. The Minister can then use findings from the meeting to advocate for visa extensions in GOI interagency deliberations. ¶4. (SBU) We are making some progress overcoming Supari's lingering suspicions regarding NAMRU. Dr. Widjaja noted that Minister Supari continues to hear rumors that Indonesian scientists are sending samples to NAMRU contrary to her explicit orders. We indicated that NAMRU has nothing to hide and is in full compliance with Indonesian regulations. We noted that NAMRU would be willing to immediately provide office space for a MOH representative. This representative could attend NAMRU general staff meetings, have access to the NAMRU laboratories and get to know both NAMRU Indonesian and American staff. ¶5. (SBU) Action Request: Mission recommends that Ambassador Marciel and Ambassador Hume agree to meet Dr. Widjaja and Ambassador Wibisono the afternoon of June 16. Without this meeting, we do not believe there is any possibility that Minister Supari will persuade DEPLU to extend the visas. End Action Request. NORTH