VZCZCXRO7876
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1571 2601107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 171107Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3362
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS JAKARTA 001571
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, CA/FO,
CA/VO/L/C (GREG BEER)
NSC FOR J.BADER, D.WALTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CVIS KISL ID
SUBJECT: SAO -- URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED IN RESOLVING VISA
CASE FOR PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR
1. (U) SUMMARY: Mission requires the Department's urgent
assistant in securing a resolution for a Security Advisory
Opinion (SAO) for a senior GOI official who hopes to travel
to Pittsburgh for the upcoming G20 summit. The applicant's
position is the equivalent of a top presidential aide on the
National Security Council and Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a
former general in the Indonesian army. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) Mission requests the Department's urgent assistance in
securing interagency SAO (Request ID: JAK0001GQD00)
resolution for Mr. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (Indonesian passport
number S161278 and DOB 30-October-1952) to travel to the
United States on September 23 as part of a GOI Presidential
delegation for the upcoming G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
Sjamsoeddin expects to finalize his travel on September 19.
For this visit, Indonesian President Yudhoyono's office
identified the visa applicant as a top aide. Mission
understands that Mr. Sjamsoeddin has an exact name and
date-of-birth hit and is subject to the SAO. If he can't be
cleared for a visa, we need to provide an explanation to the
GOI why this key aide can't go to the U.S.
3. (U) Consular NIV Chief Kira Zaporski has already sent
particulars of Sjamsoeddin by email in an expedite request to
Greg Beer in CA/VO/L/C. We urgently need a reply within 24
hours, before the opening of business on Friday, September 18
Jakarta time.
4. (U) As a key advisor to the Indonesian president,
Sjamsoeddin's visit to the U.S. could offer an opportunity to
focus discussion on concluding several ongoing Mission
initiatives in Indonesia. As we work towards finalizing
details of the Comprehensive Partnership, it is important to
facilitate the travel of such influential individuals. We
need the Department to bring Mr. Sjamsoeddin's pending SAO to
a quick resolution. If a visa cannot be issued, we should
provide a clear explanation to the GoI, thereby offering
Indonesia's leaders an opportunity to withdraw the visa
request with minimal loss of face.
OSIUS