INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WITH INDONESIA -- MOVING THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001919 SIPDIS DEPT FOR P, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, EAP/PD, DRL, DRL/AWH, DRL/IRF, S/P NSC FOR D.WALTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019 TAGS: PREL KISL KIRF KPAO ID SUBJECT: INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WITH INDONESIA -- MOVING THE AGENDA FORWARD REF: JAKARTA 1771 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM Ted Osius, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This message contains an Action Request -- Please see paras 6-7. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Along with the USG, the Indonesian government has now committed funds and set a January 25-27, 2010, date for the planned joint Interfaith Dialogue. A representative of the U.S. NGO Religions for Peace is set to visit Jakarta shortly to meet with the Indonesians to discuss the Dialogue. Mission would like U/S Burns to announce the event jointly with the GOI during his December 11 visit to Jakarta as a way to highlight the Dialogue, a priority item for our developing Comprehensive Partnership. To that end, Mission needs a proposed participant list and approved agenda as soon as possible in order to meet tight deadlines ahead of the January event. END SUMMARY. MUCH PROGRESS MADE ¶3. (C) The Indonesian government has committed to hosting an Interfaith Dialogue with the United States, January 25-27, ¶2010. To that end, the GOI has committed approximately $34,000 to cover the cost of accommodations, venue, meals, and local transportation for the Indonesian and U.S. delegations. The USG has committed $212,100. The number of participants will include 20 representatives from the United States, 20 participants from Indonesia and ten regional participants. The United States will be responsible for inviting five of the regional delegates and covering their travel and accommodation expenses. (Note: The GOI has agreed to cover the cost of some of the meals for the regional participants as well as their seminar packets.) ¶4. (C) The theme of the event will be "Building Communities." With the GOI, we are developing a draft agenda which will be loosely grouped into the following areas: --Good Governance; --Media Professionalism; --Empowering Moderate Voices; and, --Environment, Health, and Education. The government of Indonesia would also like to incorporate a visit to a local pesantren (Islamic boarding school) into the schedule for the event. UPCOMING NGO VISIT ¶5. (C) GOI contacts have also said they welcomed the participation of USG NGO Religions for Peace in the organization of the dialogue. We understand that Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, will visit Jakarta from November 28-30 to coordinate the event with GOI and meet with potential Indonesian participants. Dr. Vendley is well known and respected within the interfaith community in Indonesia. Mission looks forward to working with Dr. Vendley during his visit to Jakarta. ACTION REQUEST -- FINALIZING THE DETAILS ¶6. (C) We request that Washington provide a proposed participant list as soon as possible for Mission and Indonesian review. The January timeframe is fast approaching and it is important that this priority item not get lost in the holiday rush. Re the participant list, the USG should seek to include a broad spectrum of individuals. In particular, Mission would like the Department to reach out to John Esposito, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. Esposito is highly respected in Indonesia. Mission also recommends that the Department approach Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and Washington Archbishop (emeritus) Theodore Cardinal McCarrick. Mission also requests that the Department coordinate with the Indonesian Embassy in Washington. Our GOI contacts told us that Ambassador Sudjadnan was eager to coordinate with the Department on the Dialogue. ¶7. (C) We have also informed the GOI that we would like U/S Burns to announce the date and theme of the Interfaith Dialogue jointly with the GOI during his trip to Jakarta on December 11. Therefore, we request that the Department take JAKARTA 00001919 002 OF 002 the necessary steps to finalize the participant list and provide input on the agenda as soon as possible, so that this item is ready to be rolled out during the visit. HUME