IN ANNUAL SPEECH, FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 000026 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ID SUBJECT: IN ANNUAL SPEECH, FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS PRIORITIES WITH ACCENT ON ASEAN JAKARTA 00000026 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a review of Indonesian foreign policy priorities, Foreign Minister Wirajuda portrayed Indonesia as a "bridge and consensus builder" and defender of fundamental principles, particularly in the United Nations. He highlighted Indonesia's role as a key emerging economy and a voice of democracy, human rights and good government. Now that Indonesia's term on the UNSC had ended, ASEAN and its gradual transition toward a more integrated community would take top priority. On Iran, Wirajuda kept the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its assessments central. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): Looking ahead, Wirajuda signaled optimism that the new U.S. administration would promote dialogue and try to resolve conflicts, particularly in the Middle East. Separately, Wirajuda announced plans to open embassies in Bahrain and Oman. Wirajuda's remarks were constructive in general and did not contain any surprises. END SUMMARY. ANNUAL REMARKS ¶3. (U) On January 6 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU) in Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda delivered the Indonesian government's annual statement on foreign policy. Traditionally presented at the beginning of the new year, the statement briefly assesses the current international situation, reviews Indonesia's accomplishments over the past year and offers an outlook for the coming year. When fully translated, Mission will provide the text of Wirajuda's remarks to Department. INDONESIA'S PLACE IN THE WORLD ¶4. (U) Wirajuda generally characterized Indonesia's role internationally as one of "bridge and consensus builder" and balancing force. The deepening of democracy and good governance domestically and the resolution shown in the campaign against corruption increased Indonesia's positive image internationally. Accordingly, Indonesia had organized discussions in the context of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and participated actively in international efforts on the recovery of assets. Similarly, Indonesia organized and hosted the Bali Democracy Forum to advance democracy within the Asia-Pacific region. �0A; ASEAN AT THE CENTER ¶5. (U) Wirajuda then turned his attention toward ASEAN. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took steps from a loose association toward an eventual community. The most important step being the Charter that was signed and ratified in 2008. As the largest member of ASEAN and host of the Secretariat, it was incumbent on Indonesia to take a leading role in this transformation. The integration of ASEAN was a key element of the integration of the Asia-Pacific region and a vibrant ASEAN could "take the driver's seat" in that process. The failure of the Doha Round of trade negotiations, which raised the specter of protectionism, could help drive forward regional integration as a preventative measure. Indonesia would give priority to preparing a blueprint for an ASEAN Political and Security Community and an ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community as well as completing the terms of reference for the ASEAN Human Rights Body, he added. SOLID BILATERAL RELATIONS ¶6. (U) Continuing, the Foreign Minister said that JAKARTA 00000026 002.2 OF 003 Indonesia's network of bilateral ties were positive. Following a plan of action laid out earlier, Indonesia continued in 2008 to deepen its bilateral relations with other countries--South Africa and Brazil being the latest to enter into partnership agreements with Indonesia. Relations with immediate neighbors were strengthened, notably via the Indonesia-Timor-Leste Commission on Truth and Friendship (CTF). RE UNITED STATES ¶7. (U) Wirajuda was sparing--yet positive--in his mention of the United States. Looking ahead to prospects for 2009, Wirajuda underscored the expectation that the incoming Obama Administration would offer new opportunities for resolving conflicts and promoting dialogue, especially in the Middle East. COMMITMENT TO PRINCIPLES ¶8. (U) During its two-year stint on the United Nations Security Council (2007-2008),Indonesia acted as "bridge and consensus builder" based on fundamental principles, according to Wirajuda. Particularly important were the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which Indonesia defended in UNSC decisions on Kosovo and South Ossetia, Georgia. In these debates, Indonesia worked to avoid setting a precedent that could destabilize relations among states, he said. Indonesia also firmly rejected attempts to use the UNSC to set new international norms or conventions, particularly regarding to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the UNSC response to piracy off the coast of Somalia. ¶9. (U) Re Iran, Wirajuda said Indonesia kept the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) central, supporting UNSC Resolution 1737 when the IAEA had found Iran's cooperation and transparency to be deficient and abstaining on UNSCR 1803 when the IAEA had deemed Iran's cooperation and transparency sufficient. In addition, Indonesia consistently pressed for dialogue over the use of force, securing an amendment to this effect in UNSCR 1835 after the P-5 had already approved the resolution. ¶10. (U) Characterizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as "the mother of all conflicts," Wirajuda noted Indonesia's participation in the Annapolis Conference, the Paris Donors Conference and the Asian-African Conference on Capacity Building for Palestine, which Indonesia initiated and hosted in 2008. As Indonesia's UNSC tenure ended, Indonesia was pressing for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on the basis of Article 51 of the UN Charter concerning the Uniting for Peace resolution and in Geneva was urging a special meeting of the UN Council for Human Rights (UNCHR). Indonesia also had pledged to contribute $1 million in medical supplies to Gazans, he noted. ¶11. (U) Taking a prominent role on climate change, Indonesia followed up on its hosting of the December 2007 Bali Conference, he allowed. Indonesia, Poland, Denmark and the UN Secretary General worked toward ensuring that the 2009 Copenhagen Conference would generate a new international agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol by 2012. On economic issues, Indonesia participated as an emerging economy in the Hokkaido 8 8 Summit and the Washington G-20 Summit. In addition, Indonesia in 2008 participated in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit, the Asia-Europe (ASEM) Summit, the ASEAN 3 Summit and the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Summit, the last three of these focused on the global economic crisis. Wirajuda also briefly noted JAKARTA 00000026 003.2 OF 003 Indonesia foreign trade, including what he said was its increased exports to non-traditional markets such as Russia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America. NEW EMBASSIES ¶12. (U) Separately, Wirajuda announced Indonesia's intention to open embassies in Bahrain and Oman in the near future, as well as representative offices in Mozambique and other African countries, the Balkans and Latin America. He said the plan, approved by the government, would need the approval of the national legislature (DPR). Neither Bahrain nor Oman have embassies in Jakarta, but Wirajuda cited the large number of Indonesian guest workers in those countries as the reason. Countries such as Azerbaijan, Panama and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which opened embassies in Jakarta in recent years, are looking for reciprocal action by Indonesia. Ecuador closed its embassy in Jakarta on December 31 without giving an official reason, he said. NO SURPRISES ¶13. (C) The speech did not contain surprises. Wirajuda's remarks were an accurate reflection of Indonesian foreign policy principles and priorities. Multilateral diplomacy and non-intervention are traditional values that will continue to set the framework for Indonesian foreign policy. Overall, the two years on the Security Council have imparted a positive momentum and sense of engagement internationally that will last for some time. Now that its UNSC term is over, the GOI is clearly turning its attention to ASEAN, a topic on which Wirajuda spoke about at some length. HEFFERN