Peace Corps Agreement Signed With Indonesia

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002034 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, L, CA, M, P DEPT PASS TO PEACE CORPS SINGAPORE PASS NSC DESMOND WALTON E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: EAID USAID PREL PGOV CPAS ID SUBJECT: Peace Corps Agreement Signed With Indonesia ¶1. (SBU) Undersecretary for Political Affairs William Burns signed a Peace Corps agreement with Deputy Minister Bambang Sutedjo of Indonesia's National Development Planning Agency (BAPENAS) on December 11th. The agreement opens the way for Peace Corps to establish a program in Indonesia after a forty-year absence. The return of Peace Corps to Indonesia signifies a deepening of U.S.-Indonesia ties, and advances our progress toward the proposed U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. ¶2. (SBU) Post commends the Peace Corps for its hard work, commitment and flexibility in reaching this agreement. Post also expresses gratitude to the many individuals and offices whose dedication and professionalism made this agreement possible. In particular, we credit the efforts of Under Secretary Burns, Under Secretary Kennedy, the team at EAP/MTS, and Consular Affairs. We also recognize the extraordinary efforts of the Translating Division of the Office of Language Services, whose responsiveness and fast turnaround proved critical to finalizing the Bahasa Indonesia language text in time for Under Secretary Burns to sign during his trip to Jakarta. HUME