VZCZCXRO0326
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #2739/01 2710006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280006Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6475
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0871
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1269
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1819
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0126
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002739
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR KATZ AND BROOKS
DEPT FOR EAP/RSP and EAP/MTS
DEPT FOR EB/IFD/OMA
DEPT ALSO FOR OES/IET AND OES/ETC/TED
TREASURY FOR IA-SETH SEARLS
COMMERCE FOR 4430/GOLIKE
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PHUM PREL PGOV SENV KDEM ID
SUBJECT: U/S JEFFERY DISCUSSES BURMA, ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, AT ASEAN
1. (SBU) Summary. ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Nicholas Tandi
Dammen provided Under Secretary Jeffery with a brief overview of
ASEAN's draft blueprint for economic integration and expressed
appreciation for the United States' robust cooperation with ASEAN on
trade and economic issues, particularly in the area of capacity
building. U/S Jeffery noted the important role that ASEAN plays in
the region and underscored the United States' support for ASEAN's
plans for economic integration. He also confirmed that President
Bush had extended an invitation to the leaders of ASEAN to visit
Texas for a Commemorative Summit during the end of 2007 or early
2008. Responding to a question about ASEAN's influence on Burma,
ASEAN Secretariat Staff replied that ASEAN would have limited
leverage over the Burmese government as long as India and China
provide strong support for Burma's economy. End Summary.
ASEAN Secretariat Staff Outline Plans for Integration
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2. (SBU) ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for Economic Affairs
Nicholas Tandi Dammen and his staff provided U/S Jeffery with a
brief overview of ASEAN's draft blueprint for economic integration.
ASEAN staff noted that the key thrust of the blueprint is to build a
single ASEAN market and production base by 2015. In an effort to
achieve that goal, the blueprint also focuses on enhancing
competitiveness in the region, providing equitable economic growth,
and increasing economic integration with the rest of the world.
3. (SBU) ASEAN is currently in the early stages of enhancing
competition policies at the national level, while its blueprint for
achieving equitable economic growth centers on increasing
development in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma, as well as
sub-ASEAN regions where high levels of poverty persist. ASEAN staff
highlighted their efforts to complete free trade agreements (FTAs)
with important trading partners. ASEAN has engaged in FTA
negotiations with a large number of countries, including China and
Korea, with which ASEAN has concluded agreements; Japan, Australia
and New Zealand, with which ASEAN will complete agreements in the
next year or two; and the European Union, with which ASEAN will
begin negotiations in the near term.
4. (SBU) ASEAN Secretariat staff also expressed appreciation for the
United States' robust cooperation with ASEAN on trade and economic
issues, particularly in the area of capacity building. Secretariat
staff specifically noted that the U.S. has provided strong
assistance for the ASEAN "single window" initiative and ASEAN's
effort to improve member countries' ability to protect intellectual
property rights (IPR). ASEAN Secretariat staff noted that while
ASEAN member country views on the importance of IPR issues were not
uniform, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's technical assistance
in this area has helped narrow the gap in viewpoints within ASEAN.
U/S Jeffery Confirms Summit Invitation, Talks Burma
--------------------------------------------- ------
5. (SBU) U/S Jeffery noted that the important role that ASEAN plays
in the region and underscored U.S. support for ASEAN's plans for
economic integration. He also confirmed that President Bush had
extended an invitation to the leaders of ASEAN to visit Texas for a
Commemorative Summit during the end of 2007 or early 2008. He noted
that the U.S. would invite Burma, as a member of ASEAN, but that the
organizers would determine the level of Burmese representation to
the Summit after ASEAN and the U.S. decide on a date.
6. (SBU) U/S Jeffery also asked Deputy Secretary General Dammen his
views on engaging Burma. ASEAN Secretariat staff replied that ASEAN
would have limited leverage over the Burmese government as long as
India and China provide strong support for Burma's economy. As long
as India and China provide economic support for Burma, economic
sanctions are unlikely to have a significant impact. Instead, ASEAN
questioned whether a more positive approach, such as significantly
increasing economic cooperation with Burma, would be more a more
effective mechanism to gain influence and effect change in Rangoon.
JAKARTA 00002739 002 OF 002
ASEAN wants China and India to play a more proactive role in
limiting human rights abuses in Burma.
7. (U) U/S Jeffery cleared this cable.
HUME