AMBASSADOR, DIRECTOR GENERAL RETNO ASSESS PROGRESS

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001204

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ID KN PGOV
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, DIRECTOR GENERAL RETNO ASSESS PROGRESS
IN COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

REF: JAKARTA 1194


1. (U) Action request in Para 5.


2. (SBU) On July 16, Ambassador and DCM met with Department
of Foreign Affairs Director General for AMERICA and Europe,
Amb. Retno Marsudi, to provide updates on elements of the
developing comprehensive partnership between the United
States and Indonesia. They discussed:
-- Health cooperation: Ambassador provided D-G Retno with a
copy of the confidential agreed minutes resulting from the
U.S. delegation,s July 13-16 visit to Jakarta (septel),
noting the two sides had agreed to announce in October a
joint Indonesia-U.S. center for biomedical and public health
research which would be fully functional by mid-January 2010;
-- Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC): Retno welcomed news
that the U.S. would accede to the TAC;
-- Peace Corps: Retno agreed that only minor difference
remain on a Peace Corps agreement, stating they could be
resolved soon;
-- University Delegation visit: Retno looked forward to
meeting representatives from 21 U.S. universities on July 27;
-- North Korea: Ambassador acknowledged Indonesia,s plans to
send a delegation to the DPRK;
-- Science and Technology: Ambassador outlined a timeline for
negotiations on a Science and Technology agreement (ref A)
and expressed hope that negotiations could be concluded by
October;
-- New Embassy Compound: Ambassador reiterated his request
for assistance in purchasing MMS3, which requires GoI
permission;
-- Codel Nelson: Ambassador requested DEPLU,s assistance in
obtaining senior GoI appointments for Senator Nelson on
August 14;
-- OPIC: Ambassador noted a visit by OPIC official July 24-25;
-- TFCA: Ambassador welcomed the recent signing of a Tropical
Forest Conservation Act Agreement; and
-- American Place: the Ambassador briefed Retno about plans
to create a new outreach venue in Jakarta.

3. (SBU) Welcoming these developments, and in particular the
"breakthrough" on health cooperation, D-G Retno asked whether
the Ambassador could confirm a visit to Indonesia by
President Obama in the fall. Ambassador replied that he
hoped a decision would be made in the near future. Retno
also reported:
-- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC): the GoI had sent
individuals to the U.S. for training with the MCC;
-- Parliamentary delegation: a senior delegation from
Indonesia,s parliament would visit Washington July 27-August
2 and needed assistance obtaining visas and appointments;
-- Development assistance: Retno had learned from her Embassy
in Washington that in FY 2010 Indonesia would likely receive
$32 million in ESF funds; $101 million in development
assistance; $20 million in FMF funding; and $11.6 million in
INL funds. Ambassador added that some funding from the
recently passed supplemental might be made available to
Indonesia, but that issues remained to be resolved.

4. (SBU) Comprehensive Partnership agreement: D-G Retno urged
that the U.S. respond to Indonesia,s draft Comprehensive
Partnership Agreement. Asked about the EU,s Partnership and
Cooperation agreement, she noted that the 25-page document,
negotiated over three years would cover almost all sectors,
including education, transportation, human rights, security,
culture, and forestry. The U.S. she noted, sought a brief,
simple and flexible document.

5. (SBU) Action request: Embassy requests Department to
provide a response to the Indonesia document, submitted in
April 2009.
HUME