Health Cooperation-The Need for a Consistent USG Message

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000079 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, STAS, OES/STC, S/ECC, OES/EGC, AND R/ECA DEPT PASS TO OSTP Jason Rao NSC for Pradeep Ramamurthy BANGKOK FOR RDM/A AIDAC FOR A/A/ID, AA/ASIA, MELLIS/ASIA/AA, DAA/ASIA, SSOLAT/ASIA/EAA, RSCOTT/ASIA/EAA, JBORRAZZO/GH/HIDN/MCHI, GCOOK/ME/TS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV TSPL TBIO EAID KGHG SENV ID SUBJECT: Health Cooperation-The Need for a Consistent USG Message REF: Jakarta 64 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: This is an action message. By mid- February, the USG will need to make a critical decision about our continued health cooperation with Indonesia. In the lead-up to that decision, Mission strongly recommends that all USG agencies engaged in or considering health cooperation initiatives with Indonesia articulate a consistent message. This unity of voice will be critical to the success of upcoming negotiations on the establishment of a joint Indonesian-US Center for Biomedical Research and Public Health (IUC). This message explains the issues at stake in those negotiations and provides suggested talking points for USG agencies dealing with Indonesia on health matters. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) BACKGROUND: The USG has proposed sending an interagency negotiating team to Indonesia in early February to resolve outstanding issues regarding the creation of the IUC. The Indonesian government has extended until March 15 the visas of U.S. Navy personnel currently assigned to the Navy Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-2) in Jakarta to allow for these negotiations. Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih has welcomed the negotiating team (see reftel). ¶4. (SBU) A key issue in the negotiations will be the continued involvement of U.S. Navy scientific resources and personnel in the IUC--a matter of considerable sensitivity for the GOI. In a January 14 meeting, Ambassador Hume pressed Minister Endang to pursue a solution that includes keeping the Navy's medical research capabilities in Indonesia. Without the Navy's personnel and funding, which make up the bulk of USG support for health research here, the IUC has little chance of success. Given the March 15 visa expiration date for NAMRU-2 personnel, we need to reach a decision on the Navy's continued presence here by mid-February. ¶5. (SBU) An important element of our strategy between now and mid-February will be a clear message to the GOI that a decision on the IUC will have an impact on other health cooperation. We recommend that any USG agency considering new programs with Indonesia should alert their counterparts to this reality. ¶6. (SBU) TALKING POINTS: Mission recommends that USG officials use the following talking points when discussing health cooperation with Indonesian counterparts: -- President Obama and President Yudhoyono called for deepening U.S.-Indonesia cooperation in combating infectious diseases when they met in November on the margins of APEC in Singapore. -- Health cooperation is an important part of the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership and a critical priority for both countries. -- Establishing the IUC is an important building block to broader health cooperation and an ideal platform for long-term engagement on infectious disease research and applied public health solutions that will benefit both countries. --In addition to the Navy, numerous USG agencies and programs have interests in collaborating with Indonesia on infectious disease threats including US CDC, NIH, USAID, BEP, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and others. The USG anticipates that successful negotiations to establish the IUC will provide a framework for USG engagement on health issues and will be highlighted in President Obama's possible visit to Indonesia. -- We have a short time to reach agreement on the IUC. Visas for U.S. Navy personnel have been extended until March 15. Given the logistical and personnel matters involved, we need to reach a decision by mid-February. JAKARTA 00000079 002 OF 002 -- The continued participation of U.S. Navy scientific resources and personnel will be critical to the IUC's success. -- If the Navy does not participate in the IUC, the overwhelming majority of USG funding and personnel available for the center would not be available. The USG cannot transfer these resources from the Navy to another agency. -- We look forward to upcoming negotiations to find a way forward that retains U.S. Navy participation in the IUC. -- A failure to find a way to move forward with the IUC, including U.S. Navy participation, could have an impact on other health cooperation with Indonesia. -- Should that be the outcome, the USG will have to carefully assess new proposals for health cooperation on a case by case basis before determining whether to move forward. End suggested talking points. HUME