UNCLAS JAKARTA 001693

SINGAPORE FOR SETH BLEIWEIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EB/TPP
USTR FOR KELHERS, BWEISEL
TREASURY FOR IA-BAUKOL

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EINV ECON ETRD PREL ID
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ON COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP AT
USINDO CONFERENCE


1. (SBU) Summary. Presidential advisor and Spokesperson for
International Affairs Dino Patti Djalal described U.S.-Indonesian
relations as "at an interesting place" in public remarks delivered
at a lunch hosted by USINDO on the Comprehensive Partnership on
October 6th. He described the recent increased alignment of
interests between the U.S. and Indonesia as "unprecedented" and
called for an open-minded, long-term approach toward crafting the
proposed Comprehensive Partnership. Djalal posited a direct
correlation between the quality of the Partnership and the
willingness of officials on both sides to ask "honest, hard
questions" and adopt a long-term vision in answering them. End
Summary.

Finding the "Soul" of the Relationship
--------------

2. (SBU) Djalal contended that the U.S. and Indonesia need to find
the "soul" of their bilateral relationship in order to craft a
partnership relevant to one another. He said that the past few
years have brought about a degree of convergence and confluence
among U.S. and Indonesian policy interests on a number of issues,
including terrorism, human rights and climate change. Now, he
added, the United States and Indonesia have the chance to change the
world together. The challenge, therefore, is not to develop a
Comprehensive Partnership that describes where we are today, but
rather one that projects where we want to be together in ten years.


Health Issues an Area for Cooperation
--------------

3. (SBU) Djalal cited the health sector as an example of where the
U.S. and Indonesia could further develop cooperation. He said we
now have a chance to get beyond an issue that has been burdened with
nationalism and conspiracy theories and move to a new level where
debates over NAMRU and avian influenza are behind us.

On Kopassus: "Get Over It"
--------------

4. (SBU) Djalal encouraged both sides to overcome stereotypes in
order to understand one another. He explained that on the
Indonesian side, many foreign affairs professionals harbor the
mistaken belief that the U.S. seeks the dissolution of Indonesia as
a single nation. On the U.S. side, he emphasized the importance of
understanding Indonesia's desire for a partnership between equals
and affirmed that his country would never compromise its
independence. He said both sides needed to understand each others'
political realities. For example, he hoped that U.S. officials
would understand that Kopassus - Indonesian Army Special Forces- is
a reformed institution ("Prabowo doesn't run it anymore," he
quipped, referring to the former Kopassus commander and one-time
Vice Presidential candidate who is widely accused of involvement in
human rights violations.) Djalal urged the U.S. to move forward
with training for soldiers in Kopassus.

Let's Get To Work
--------------

5. (SBU) Djalal's remarks were upbeat and positive; however he
did warn that failing to ask the hard questions could mean that "We
won't get a great partnership, and maybe not even a good one."
While his comments offered little in terms of new, substantive
ideas, Djalal reaffirmed Indonesian commitment to developing a
Comprehensive Partnership. His speech also signaled key themes
important to the Indonesian side: partners as equals, a long-term
outlook, and a sense mutual understanding.

OSIUS