ARF -- INDONESIA INTERESTED IN DISASTER RELIEF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001221 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS SUBJECT: ARF -- INDONESIA INTERESTED IN DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISES REF: EAP/RSP-JAKARTA 07-17-09 EMAILS AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indonesia is keen to host the second ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Voluntary Demonstration of Response in Disaster Relief (VDR) in 2010 or 2011. However, the GOI is seeking support and assistance from the United States and other ARF participants in order to do so. Indonesia supports the ARF Voluntary Model Arrangement but hopes that the United States and Thailand will serve as co-sponsors of the measure. END SUMMARY. DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE--HELP WANTED ¶3. (SBU) Indonesia wants to host the second ARF-VDR in 2010 or 2011, according to Ibnu Hadi, Director for Intra-regional Cooperation for Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU). Hadi told poloff that FM Wirajuda had reviewed the matter and endorsed Indonesia's possible hosting the ARF-VDR. However, FM Wirajuda instructed DEPLU officials to seek support from ARF participants in order to facilitate the exercise. Hadi provided a nonpaper outlining GOI views on the matter more fully. (See paragraph 6 for the text of the nonpaper). ¶4. (SBU) Poloff asked if Indonesia could specify the exact type of assistance it would need in order to host the exercise. Hadi responded that Indonesia had not identified specific needs. Instead, it hoped to look at offers of financial, logistical and technical support from participating countries in order to determine if it could host the exercise. Indonesia also approached Japan, Australia, South Korea and other ARF participants this request. Poloff promised to relay the request to Washington. ARF MODEL ARRANGEMENT ¶5. (SBU) Poloff noted that the United States was still receiving comments on the draft Voluntary Model Arrangement on the use of Foreign Military Assets in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response. He provided Hadi with a copy of the July 7 USG concept paper on the matter and a copy of A/S Campbell's letter. Hadi said that Indonesia supported the U.S. approach. However, Indonesia wished to remain in the "background" on this issue. The GOI believed that as co-chairs of the intercessional meeting, the U.S. and Thailand should be the formal sponsors of the initiative. �00A;This, Hadi noted was consistent with the ministerial instruction on the matter. ¶6. (U) Begin text of Non-paper: EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY FOR INDONESIA TO HOST THE 2ND ARF VOLUNTARY DEMONSTRATION OF RESPONSE IN DISASTER RELIEF ¶1. ASEAN Regional Forum Voluntary Demonstration of Response in Disaster Relief was held successfully in the Philippines, 4-8 May 2009. It was the first ever field exercise organized in the framework of the ARF and participated by 26 ARF participating countries, indicating the significance of this exercise. ¶2. The ARF-VDR was a major step for ARF in developing concrete and tangible contributions to a transnational security issue like disaster relief. The field exercise was a first step and provided a number of valuable benefits for future major, multinational relief operations, future exercises, and security cooperation. ¶3. Indonesia attached great interest in the exercise and contributed significantly to the exercise in the area of medical supplies and repair of damaged structures by sending 50 personnel, from both civilian and military. ¶4. Indonesia's participation at the 1st ARF-VDR was appreciated and warmly welcomed by other ARF participants. Several countries such as the US and Japan have approached Indonesia to probe the possibility of cooperation/partnership in organizing such a follow up in Indonesia. ¶5. Indonesia is considering the possibility to host the 2nd ARF-VDR in 2010 or in 2011. Therefore, Indonesia is looking for support from its potential partners, including JAKARTA 00001221 002 OF 002 the US, Japan, Australia, and other ARF participating countries. ¶6. Indication of support level by potential Co-chairs or certain ARF participating countries is an important consideration for Indonesia in formulating its position and readiness for organizing the plan. ¶7. Provided Indonesia gains support from key ARF countries, one possibility is to organize the Exercise back-to-back with the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX) in October 2010 in Indonesia. ¶8. Although a decision on this plan is ideally achieved and announced at the 16th ARF, the potential Co-Chairs may decide and announce their decision at a later stage preferably before the end of the 2009 allowing for preparation by all ARF participants to decide their participation in the exercise. ¶9. Upon positive decision, planning sessions should be immediately held first among the co-Chairs and all ARF participating countries. End text. HUME