INDONESIA REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR IMO CANDIDACY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001169 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS, IO/T, EEB/TRA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EWWT IMO PREL PHSA KTIA ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR IMO CANDIDACY ¶1. This is an action request - Please see para 3. ¶2. Embassy received on July 1 a diplomatic note from the Department of Foreign Affairs requesting USG support towards the candidature of Indonesia to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category "C". ¶3. Action Request: Mission requests the Department's guidance in responding to the diplomatic note, an unofficial translation of which is provided below. Begin text No. D00684/07/2009/46 The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to inform the latter that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has decided to present its candidature for re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category "C" for the period of 2009-2011, the election of which will be held during the 26th Annual Assembly of the IMO in LONDON on 23 November-4 December 2009. As member of the IMO since 1961 and the IMO Council since 1973, Indonesia has played an active role and demonstrated the highest interest in and dedication to the promotion of the enhancement of international cooperation in maritime safety and security, including the protection of the marine environment. Through its continued participation in the IMO Council, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia believes that it can play a more constructive role and make valuable contributions to the maritime development of common interests. In view of the above, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia would like to request the support of the Government of the United States of America towards the candidature of Indonesia to the IMO Council for Category "C". Attached herewith is an Aide Memoire regarding Indonesia's candidature. The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Jakarta, 1 July 2009 End text ¶4. The text of the aide memoire follows below. Begin text AIDE MEMOIRE THE CANDIDATURE OF INDONESIA FOR RE-ELECTION AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF IMO CATEGORY "C", 2009-2011 ¶1. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia presents its candidature for re-election as member of Category "C" Group on the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO),at elections to be held during the 26th Session of the Assembly of the IMO in London, which will take place on 23 November - 4 December ¶2009. ¶2. Being located at the strategic shipping routes and international navigational systems, Indonesia attaches great importance to the protection of maritime passages which include the Malacca and Singapore Straits, the Sunda Strait, and the Lombok Strait. As such, as part of its long term maritime policy objectives to assure a safe, secure and clean ocean, Indonesia is fully committed to the improvement and management of infrastructures in the area and within other Indonesian waters. ¶3. As IMO member since 1961, Indonesia has actively participated in IMO activities, including in the Council since 1973. Indonesia has also played an active role and has demonstrated the highest interest in and dedication to the promotion of the enhancement of international cooperation in maritime safety and security, including the protection of the marine environment. In this regard, Indonesia has acceded to 17 IMO Conventions, such as SOLAS 1974, CSC 1972, STCW 1978, INMARSAT 1976, MARPOL 73/78 (Annex I/II),COLREG 1972, and CLC 1992. ¶4. Indonesia has also ratified several others important legal instruments in relation to maritime issues, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the BASEL Convention 1989, the United Nations Convention Biological Diversity, and the JAKARTA 00001169 002 OF 002 International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages 1993. To enhance Indonesian seafarers' competency and capacity, Indonesia in 2008 has ratified the ILO Convention No. 185 regarding the Revising of the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention 1958. ¶5. In the region, Indonesia has a long-standing commitment to the promotion of safety, security and protection of marine environment. In this regard, Indonesia together with Malaysia and Singapore as Littoral States, have been working closely in the Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. In dealing with new challenges, the Littoral States with the IMO have launched the Cooperative Mechanism, a basis for cooperation between Littoral States, User States, shipping industries and other stakeholders in enhancing maritime safety and environmental protection in the Straits. ¶6. Indonesia's commitment was once again demonstrated in its initiative to convene the World Ocean Conference 2009 (WOC 2009) with the aim to conserve the marine environment of the world's only oceans and to respond to the threats of global climate change. The Conference was able to integrate global vision and garner international commitment to work together to improve marine resource management. The resulting Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) will be promoted to be included in the forthcoming United Nations climate talks in Copenhagen in December 2009, in order to fleet ocean-sensitive policies into the climate change discussions. ¶7. Indonesia's ongoing national priorities are to enhance its ports' capacities to accommodate Indonesia's rapid development and to provide strong support for international trade. In order to ensure the security of international trade within Indonesian water, Indonesia has implemented SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and ISPS-Code. To date, 247 ports facilities have complied with the ISPS Code, as also 742 Indonesian-flagged vessels. In addition, under the new Indonesian Law on Shipping, the Government of Indonesia will establish the Indonesian Sea and Coastguard to enhance law enforcement in Indonesian waters. ¶8. In its desire to continue its work in the IMO Council and given its strong commitment to the realization of IMO purposes, goals and objectives, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia would highly appreciate the valuable support of the esteemed Government of the Member States of the IMO for the candidature of Indonesia to the IMO Council in Category "C" for the period of 2009-2011. End text HUME