U/S BURNS' DECEMBER 10, 2009, MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002072 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL NSC FOR J.BADER E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019 TAGS: PREL PARM MARR SENV OVIP BURNS WILLIAM ID AF SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' DECEMBER 10, 2009, MEETING WITH INDONESIAN DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY GENERAL IMRON COTAN Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (SBU) December 10, 2009; 10:45 a.m.; Bali Democracy Forum; Bali, Indonesia. ¶2. (SBU) Participants: U.S. -------------- Under Secretary William Burns Ambassador Cameron Hume, Embassy Jakarta Scot Marciel, EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Dan Rochman, Embassy Jakarta political officer (notetaker) INDONESIA -------------- Imron Cotan, Secretary General, Department of Foreign Affairs Bunyan Saptomo, Director, Directorate of North and Central America, Department of Foreign Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs notetaker ¶3. (C) SUMMARY In a December 10 meeting with Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) Secretary General Imron Cotan on the margins of the second annual Bali Democracy Forum (BDF),Under Secretary Bill Burns stressed the importance of using the bilateral Comprehensive Partnership (CP) to achieve concrete results. In response to Cotan's call for U.S. engagement with Indonesia's Army Special Forces, U/S Burns explained the complexity of the issue and pointed out the many productive areas in bilateral mil-to-mil relations. Cotan said Indonesia was keen to support Afghan police training but wary of becoming a target if it did so. U/S Burns encouraged Indonesia to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) rapidly. Cotan praised the U.S. stance on climate change and said President Yudhoyono was eager to help achieve a positive result in Copenhagen. END SUMMARY. BDF AND COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP ¶4. (C) U/S Burns noted that his attendance at the BDF was indicative of U.S. respect for the role of Indonesia and President Yudhoyono in building and strengthening democracy throughout the region. The launching of the bilateral CP was a mark of maturing relations. The CP must, however, go beyond rhetoric and be implemented with substantive initiatives. Finalizing the proposed Science and Technology Agreement before the January visit of Presidential Science Envoy Bruce Alberts would be a very positive step. Cotan agreed with U/S Burns that there was thus much to be done before the anticipated visit of President Obama in mid-2010 and stressed that Indonesia saw its growing partnership with the United States as extremely valuable. MILITARY-TO-MILITARY RELATIONS ¶5. (C) Cotan said that it was important to increase bilateral military exchanges and interaction, especially with KOPASSUS (Army Special Forces). Engagement with KOPASSUS would further the cause of military reform in Indonesia, by exposing KOPASSUS leaders to international norms and practices. The continued exclusion of KOPASSUS from engagement with U.S. forces limited the ability of KOPASSUS leadership to gain an appropriate and broader perspective, Cotan concluded. ¶6. (C) U/S Burns said that rapid agreement on the proposed Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) would be a concrete step in the further deepening of mil-to-mil relations. Engagement with KOPASSUS continued to be a difficult and complex issue, particularly as there remained many in Washington, including in Congress, with serious concerns about accountability for past KOPASSUS actions. Overall bilateral military cooperation was very productive, however, and the USG looked forward to continued expansion of cooperation on peacekeeping, maritime security, and disaster relief. AFGHANISTAN ¶7. (C) Cotan said the GOI was keen to contribute to training efforts for Afghan security personnel. However, Indonesia wanted to proceed in a way that did not attract too much attention. Cotan said the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul had already received a number of threats, and the GOI was wary of becoming a target. U/S Burns stressed the potential JAKARTA 00002072 002 OF 002 significance of Indonesian training for Afghan police and pointed out that the United States would be very flexible in helping Indonesia find a way to do so. NONPROLIFERATION ¶8. (C) Cotan said that although the GOI was increasingly interested in nuclear power generation, it would move forward in a manner strictly in adherence with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The GOI was very encouraged by the Obama administration's balanced stress on disarmament and nonproliferation and looked forward helping make the spring 2010 Nuclear Security Summit a success. U/S Burns said that Indonesia has shown leadership by signing the Additional Protocol and could play an important role in convincing other ASEAN members to do likewise. Additionally, Indonesian ratification of the CTBT before the United States could have a positive impact on U.S. ratification efforts. CLIMATE CHANGE ¶9. (C) Cotan said that the GOI viewed positively the Obama administration's stance on climate change and that President Yudhoyono was very keen on a successful Copenhagen Summit. U/S Burns noted the importance of transparency in setting emissions reductions targets, including by China, and the urgency in making progress before leaders met December 18-19. ¶10. (U) U/S Burns cleared this message. HUME