AMBASSADOR HEARS KEY GOI OFFICIAL ON PLANNED

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001611 SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP NSC FOR J. BADER, D. WALTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ID SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HEARS KEY GOI OFFICIAL ON PLANNED PRESIDENTIAL VISIT REF: JAKARTA 1484 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) In a September 25 meeting, Ambassador Retno Marsudi of the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) asked the Ambassador about the status of the planned visit of President Obama. He responded that there was still no definitive answer regarding whether President Obama would visit Indonesia in mid-November. Marsudi said she was exceptionally concerned about how the Indonesian public would react if President Obama did not make the visit. She explained that Indonesian Foreign Minister Wirajuda had told her that the GOI would need to manage public expectations. The Ambassador replied that he hoped to have an answer soon, and noted that President Obama and President Yudhoyono were currently participating in the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Marsudi said she was very concerned about how Indonesians would react if President Obama "skipped" Indonesia during his travel to Singapore for the APEC meeting, particularly if he made stops in China and Japan. Given the close proximity (one hour flight from Singapore), it would be better if the President could come, even if only for a very short visit (a few hours). During such a brief visit the President could explain that he would return at a later date when he was free to stay longer. ¶3. (C) Continuing, Marsudi remarked that Presidential Spokesperson Dino Djalal had advised President Yudhoyono to mention this to President Obama at the G-20 Summit. However, being Javanese (and thus non-confrontational),she said, President Yudhoyono would not be overly straightforward and it was therefore not likely that he would express his concerns in a face-to-face meeting with the President. Marsudi said she was afraid that Indonesians would think the United States was "playing with Indonesia" and "still not taking Indonesia seriously or making it a priority." The Ambassador asked about sending a delegation to President Yudhoyono's inauguration in October. Marsudi said it would be counter-productive as Indonesians really only wanted President Obama. ¶4. (C) Marsudi related that it would be very difficult to announce a deepened relationship with the United States without a Presidential visit. Although still possible, it wouldn't be as meaningful, she maintained. She also pointed out that work on many of the agenda items pending the declaration of our Comprehensive Partnership could stall. She said the GOI has planned to have the two presidents announce a new relationship during the visit, at which time agreements on Science and Technology, the Peace Corps, OPIC, and the joint Indonesian-United States Center for Biomedical and Public HEALTH Research (IUC) could be signed by other officials. The Ambassador reiterated our commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Partnership and underscored the need to continue to make progress on key issues with or without a visit by President Obama in November. HUME