Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09JAKARTA1669 | 2009-10-06 02:31:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Jakarta |
VZCZCXYZ0434 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJA #1669/01 2790231 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 060231Z OCT 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3495 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC |
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001669 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI and U.S. must maintain momentum on the Comprehensive Partnership and conclude the Peace Corps agreement soon, Department of Foreign Affairs Director for North and Central America Bunyan Saptomo told visiting EAP/MTS Director Joseph Yun on September 28. In a separate meeting, Deputy for Foreign Policy Affairs at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Albert Matondang explained to Yun that the inability of the U.S. to train Indonesian special forces remains an impediment to a strong security relationship under the Comprehensive Partnership. END SUMMARY. VISIT BY EAP/MTS DIRECTOR JOSEPH YUN 2. (SBU) EAP/MTS Director Joseph Yun visited Indonesia from September 27-30 and met with GOI officials, members of civil society, and representatives from the business community. Yun outlined his role as the Director of the office responsible for Indonesia at the State Department and solicited feedback on the progress of our bilateral relationship. He emphasized that the United States would like to upgrade the U.S.-Indonesia relationship and would look for ways to advance our bilateral agenda. MEETING WITH DEPLU ON PLAN OF ACTION 3. (C) In their September 28 meeting, Department of Foreign Affairs Director for North and Central America Bunyan Saptomo and Director Yun discussed the status of the Comprehensive Partnership. Bunyan stated that the GOI had received the revised draft Plan of Action from the Department and had organized an inter-departmental meeting to review the changes in the text. He believed that the two governments held many common views and was awaiting responses from the relevant departments in the GOI. Bunyan did not indicate how long this process would take. 4. (C) Bunyan reviewed the following key elements of the Comprehensive Partnership, stressing the importance of maintaining momentum in key areas: -- Peace Corps MOU: An agreement was very close, Bunyan said. A no-fee visa was still a pending issue. The Peace Corps had requested a no-fee visa for all Peace Corps volunteers, which was not possible given the GOI's regulations on tourist passports and visas. One solution was for the GOI to share a portion of the cost of the Peace Corps under the agreement; Bunyan suggested that the Ministry of Education pay for the fee, either directly or through in-kind services. Bunyan hoped to conclude the negotiations soon as the Peace Corps would provide valuable people-to-people ties. He emphasized that madrassas were especially eager for the volunteers and he hoped that the program would reach 100 volunteers, similar to the numbers in Thailand. -- Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC): Bunyan thought that it would take some time for the GOI to understand all the elements in the OPIC agreement. Among main impediments to the OPIC agreement for Indonesia were the issue of political risk insurance and the need for the GOI to approve all foreign investments. -- Bali Democracy Forum: Bunyan highlighted that Indonesia would launch the second Bali Democracy Forum meeting in October. Director Yun said the U.S. regarded Indonesia as a key regional partner and was eager to work with the GOI on promoting democracy in the region. -- Building People-to-People ties: People-to-people ties remained a critical element of the Comprehensive Partnership, according to Bunyan. He emphasized the importance of the interfaith dialogue for building religious tolerance and understanding. Bunyan applauded the new American Indonesian Exchange Foundation education agreement, signed by the Minister of Education and funded through Fulbright. He also mentioned that the GOI would like to promote increased tourism cooperation in order to further develop our people-to-people ties. MOVING FORWARD WITH KOPASSUS 5. (C) The GOI would like the U.S. to resume training the Indonesian Army Special Forces, KOPASSUS, Albert Matondang, Deputy for Foreign Policy Affairs at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, told Director Yun in a separate meeting on September 28. Matondang said that he had explained how the Indonesian military had reformed and promoted human rights accountability to the Embassy and to Senator Nelson, during the Senator's August trip to Indonesia. Indonesia had changed. The GOI had investigated human rights abuses by the military and the perpetrators had been jailed. He added that since 1999 the military had not held seats in the Parliament and would not even vote until 2014. The military was completely under civilian control; the next minister of defense would also be a civilian. 6. (C) U.S.-Indonesian mil-mil relations must be normalized, Matondang said. This normalization must include KOPASSUS officers, who were the elite of the Indonesian military. The resumption of U.S. training for KOPASSUS would signal the recognition by the U.S. of the important transformation that had taken place in Indonesia. 7. (U) EAP/MTS Director Joseph Yun approved this message. OSIUS |