INDONESIA WELCOMES LAUNCH OF MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000540 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, OES/EGC: BARBARA DE ROSA-JOYNT COMMERCE FOR NOAA NSC FOR JBADER, EPHU, HVARMUS AND CEQ E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: SENV KGHG ENRG PREL ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA WELCOMES LAUNCH OF MAJOR ECONOMIES FORUM ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE REF: A. STATE 027497 ¶B. WHITEHOUSE 03210810 ¶1. This is an action request. See paragraph 5. ¶2. Indonesian Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar confirmed that he would represent President Yudhoyono at the April 27-28 Major Economies Forum (MEF) meeting in Washington, D.C. During a meeting with Ambassador Hume on March 25, Witoelar revealed that he had just discussed this with President Yudhoyono, and that the Government of Indonesia (GOI) welcomes the MEF and the opportunity to move international negotiations forward in cooperation with the United States. ¶3. Witoelar agreed with Ambassador Hume that the MEF is an opportunity for Indonesia to help forge a multilateral consensus for Copenhagen this December, and for individual major economies to cooperate on actions to reduce emissions. Witoelar stated that Indonesia is pleased by the Obama Administration's reengagement with other countries. It is encouraging, he said, to see President Obama's climate change team (including Special Envoy Todd Stern) reaching out to their foreign counterparts. He welcomed U.S. leadership on climate change, stating that the Administration's statements and the MEF indicate that the United States is not only "on board" but actually "in the driver's seat". According to Witoelar, Indonesia is eager to reanimate climate change discussions with the United States as well as expand bilateral cooperation. He appreciated the U.S. commitment to send a strong delegation to the World Ocean Conference, and the possibility of NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco's participation. ¶4. Noting the important work that NOAA has been doing in -- and in partnership with -- Indonesia, Witoelar and his staff expressed a keen interest in developing a strong collaborative relationship with the EPA. The Minister's staff also requested a bilateral meeting with the U.S. delegation at next week's Bonn meetings of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA). The purpose is to discuss the ongoing UNFCCC negotiations as well as the agenda for the April 27-28 preparatory MEF meeting. The GOI head of delegation will be Agus Purnomo, Head of the National Climate Change Council Secretariat. ¶5. On March 24, per reftel requests, Post delivered President Obama's invitation for President Yudhoyono to the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF). Post also provided copies to Minister Witoelar's office and the National Climate Change Council. Action: Post requests information about our delegation in Bonn and whether they will meet with the GOI delegation. HUME