WORLD OCEAN CONFERENCE: MINISTER INVITES NOAA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000265 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES AND EAP COMMERCE FOR NOAA USAID FOR ANE, EGAT BANGKOK FOR RDM/A E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: SENV KGHG EAID AORC EFIS PREL ID SUBJECT: WORLD OCEAN CONFERENCE: MINISTER INVITES NOAA ADMINISTRATOR, URGES STRONG NOAA PRESENCE REF: JAKARTA 0053 ¶1. This is an action request; see paragraph 2. ¶2. Post has received a letter from Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Freddy Numberi to the NOAA Administrator-designate, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, inviting her to attend the World Ocean Conference in Manado, Indonesia from May 11-15 (reftel). Action request: Post asks Department to convey this invitation to NOAA/Commerce, pending Dr. Lubchenco's confirmation as the new NOAA Administrator. ¶3. The unedited text of the invitation letter is reproduced in full below. MINISTRY OF MARINE AFFAIRS AND FISHERIES REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA Februari 12, 2009 Ref. No: B-71/MEN-KP/II/2009 To. H.E. Dr. Jane Lubchenco Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, Room 5128 Washington, DC 20002 Dear Excellency Dr. Lubchenco, First, please allow me to congratulate you on your selection as the new NOAA Administrator. Many of us around the world are very pleased to see that the United States government has put more emphasis on climate change, the environment, and oceans, and I look forward to working with you. I also wanted to follow up on my earlier invitation to you to join me at the first ever World Ocean Conference. Indonesia will host the WOC in Manado, North Sulawesi from May 11-15 2009. The conference will focus on the theme of "Climate Change Impacts to the Ocean" and the Role of Oceans in Climate Change". As part of the WOC, ocean ministers and heads of delegation from around the world will discuss and sign the Manado Ocean Declaration, a statement to establish the important role the ocean plays in climate change and a call to action for all costal nations to understand and adapt to climate change impacts in a sustainable way. The WOC will be followed by a Coral Triangle Initiative Summit. Recognizing NOAA's leadership in this area and our strong partnership on ocean issues, I had invited NOAA to send the exploration and research vessel Okeanos Explorer to Indonesia for the World Ocean Conference. Unfortunately, the Okeanos Explorer cannot come to Indonesia at this time, but I am pleased that NOAA is committed to a long-term partnership with Indonesia on ocean exploration and research. Excellency, I believe a strong NOAA presence at WOC is even more desirable and important. I look forward to hosting you in Manado, and hope you will support active participation by NOAA staff in the WOC itself and all the side events activities. In particular, I would like to invite you to attend the Global Ocean Policy Day and the Ministerial/High-level meeting of WOC scheduled on May 13 and 14, respectively. Excellency, I also believe NOAA participation in the WOC symposia and display exhibition would highlight our important cooperation in many aspects of marine and fisheries sector. To help facilitate NOAA participation, I have asked WOC organizers to fully assist Your Excellency's team in registration and other preparations leading to the WOC. Should you need more information about WOC, please do not hesitate to contact me or visit the website www.woc209.org. Finally, I want to want to reiterate my sincere appreciation to your kind consideration and I look forward to welcoming you to Manado in May. With Very Highest Regards, //s// JAKARTA 00000265 002 OF 002 Freddy Numberi Minister cc: - H.E. President RI - H.E. US Ambassador for Indonesia - H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs RI - H.E. Indonesian Ambassador for US - Dr. Richard Spinrad HUME