ESTABLISHING A DIALOGUE WITH INDONESIA'S NEW

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001837 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP NSC FOR D. WALTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM ID SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING A DIALOGUE WITH INDONESIA'S NEW LEGISLATORS REF: JAKARTA 01677 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In October 30 meetings with the Ambassador, newly-elected Indonesian legislative leaders expressed their commitment to working with the U.S. to achieve Comprehensive Partnership goals. They discussed Afghanistan, climate change, education and other key issues of mutual interest. Legislators also asked that the U.S. send more official U.S. visitors to Indonesia. Vigorous early engagement of Parliament is essential given that 75 percent of legislators are new. END SUMMARY. ENGAGING NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Indonesia's new legislative leaders on key components of our bilateral relationship on October 30. In separate meetings, Taufik Kiemas, newly-elected Speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),and newly-elected political party leaders in the House of Representatives (DPR) expressed their commitment to working with the U.S. on Comprehensive Partnership goals. Kiemas thanked the Ambassador for U.S. support of Indonesia's G-20 membership. He and other legislators outlined some of the Parliament's legislative priorities including combating illegal logging and climate change, better disaster management, improving health and education, and legislative capacity-building through training and increased accountability. KEY ISSUES ON BILATERAL AGENDA ¶4. (SBU) Legislative leaders explained that Indonesia is still trying to determine what its role should be regionally and internationally. They confirmed that Indonesia wanted to help regarding Afghanistan, describing Indonesia's current efforts, which included small-scale Canadian-sponsored training programs planned for Afghan police and the possibility that Indonesia could provide training for Afghan judges. The Ambassador noted as evidence of Indonesia's productive role internationally its peacekeeping units in Lebanon and Darfur, its training of Palestinian diplomats, and the GOI's successful efforts to release Korean aid workers in Afghanistan two years ago. Indonesia and Afghanistan should work together on ways to build capacity and the U.S. stands willing to help that process, the Ambassador stated. ¶5. (SBU) The legislators also asked for continued cooperation on climate change. Noting President Yudhoyono's commitment to cut emissions by 26 percent from a business-as-usual scenario, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of the U.S. and Indonesia continuing to work together on this issue. On education, legislators asked for more student scholarships to the U.S. They were pleased to hear of our new Fulbright agreement, the U.S. plan to double the number of Indonesian students going to the U.S., and plans to fund U.S.-Indonesia university partnerships. MORE U.S. VISITORS, PLEASE ¶6. (U) The legislators asked for more visits from their Congressional counterparts and others in the U.S. government. In particular, they are eagerly awaiting a visit from President Obama as further proof of our commitment to advance U.S.-Indonesia relations. The Ambassador noted that meanwhile Indonesia's G-20 membership provides more opportunities for interaction between our Presidents. In the meantime, President Obama and President Yudhoyono were scheduled to meet on the margins of the upcoming APEC discussions in Singapore. Overall, the Ambassador concluded, we strongly support the development of a strong Indonesian legislative branch and look forward to working with it on ways to advance bilateral relations. HUME