INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION -- PRESSING

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001568 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP NSC FOR D. WALTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM OVIP ID SUBJECT: INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION -- PRESSING FOR SUITABLE U.S. DELEGATION REF: JAKARTA 1509 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (U) Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will inaugurate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his second term as President and Boediono (one name only) as Vice President on October 20. Although the MPR does not plan to send official invitations to foreign delegations, we have been told that it would welcome delegations from countries which wish to send them. ¶3. (SBU) We understand that Australia is sending its Prime Minister to the inauguration. Several ASEAN countries are reportedly planning to send their heads of state. New Zealand is considering sending its Foreign Minister. The Japanese Embassy has indicated privately that its Foreign Minister may attend, but told us that it awaits a signal on the level of U.S. participation. We do not believe that European states will be sending high-level delegations. ¶4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Mission believes that the U.S. should send a suitable delegation headed by someone who is well-known and perhaps has connections to Asia and Indonesia. We believe that the delegation's stature should be commensurate with the growing importance of the U.S.- Indonesia relationship. We would appreciate Washington's near-term review of this matter. END ACTION REQUEST. OSIUS