ENGAGING INDONESIA ON U.S. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001615 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, IO/T (T.JOHNSON) NSC FOR D.WALTON EMBASSY LONDON FOR J.WHITTLESEY USCG FOR CG-52 AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHSA ECON IMO ID SUBJECT: ENGAGING INDONESIA ON U.S. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION CANDIDACY REF: STATE 98012 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Mission has urged Indonesia to support the United States' candidacy for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (Category "A") during the November 23-December 4 IMO meetings in London. Our interlocutors promised to review the U.S. candidacy carefully, adding that Indonesia would not likely announce its voting intentions in advance. END SUMMARY. REVIEWING DIPNOTE AND AIDE-MEMOIRE ¶2. (U) POLOFF reviewed reftel diplomatic note and aide-memoire urging support for the U.S. candidacy to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (Category "A") with Cicilia Rusdiharini, Deputy Director for North American Affairs, at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) on September 28. POLOFF noted to Rusdiharini that we are also making these points to other interested Indonesian ministries and agencies. THE USG'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE IMO ¶3. (U) POLOFF underlined the United States' long-standing and positive contributions to the IMO. He noted that the USG is an active member in every IMO body, including the Council. We also provide continuous financial and technical support. Given all these reasons and more, the USG believes that its re-election to the Council will further contribute to the IMO's efforts of achieving safe, secure and efficient shipping on the oceans. GOI CONSIDERING ITS VOTE ¶4. (U) Rusdiharini promised that DEPLU and GOI interagency officials would carefully review our points as they decided how Indonesia will vote. She agreed that the United States played an important role in international shipping and in the IMO. She noted, however, that Indonesia did not normally announce in advance how it would vote in such elections. HUME