VZCZCXRO2236
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #1794 3010959
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O 280959Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3676
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0188
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0229
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3092
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5993
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3673
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5420
UNCLAS JAKARTA 001794
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/EP, SECC, AND OES/EGC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID KGHG SENV PREL ID
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE PARTNERSHIP FOR POTUS BILAT AT APEC
1. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Retno Marsudi
agreed that the planned bilateral meeting between President Obama
and President Yuhoyono at APEC in Singapore presents an opportunity
to advance our bilateral relationship. Citing President Yudhoyono's
brave unilateral declaration at the Pittsburg G-20 that Indonesia
can reduce its emissions by 26% on its own or by 41% with
international assistance, the DCM stated that the U.S. wants to
support Yudhoyono's constructive move. He suggested that climate
take a prominent place on the agenda of the bilateral meeting and
discussed possible elements currently under consideration by the USG
that could be included in a public announcement of a new
U.S.-Indonesia Climate Partnership. The potential items included a
second debt-for-nature swap arrangement, a climate center on peat
and forests, USAID Jakarta's mitigation and adaptation programs, and
EPA's clean air program with the Jakarta Government.
2. (SBU) Marsudi welcomed the U.S. intention to partner with
Indonesia on climate change. She sees this as an early harvest of
the Comprehensive Partnership to be formally launched when President
Obama visits Indonesia. She and her staff expressed frustration
that Indonesia's peat lands thus far have not been included in the
UN's REDD framework. The DCM suggested that both sides consider how
the announcement coming out of the two presidents' bilateral meeting
could advance the inclusion of peat lands for carbon accounting.
Marsudi also expressed interest in green technology transfer and
asked for more details on the climate center idea.
3. (SBU) Earlier in the conversation during ESTHoff's briefing on
U.S. Climate Policy, Marsudi expressed concern that U.S. negotiation
credibility and persuasiveness at Copenhagen would be undermined if
U.S. climate legislation currently pending in the Senate is not
completed in time for Copenhagen. She reiterated President
Yudhoyono's position that failure on a global climate solution is
not an option and that every nation must take action. U.S.
bilateral engagement with Indonesia, she cautioned, cannot become or
be seen as a substitute for full U.S. commitment to the multilateral
process. In closing, Marsudi noted that her new Minister has
prioritized climate change, and she looks forward to meeting again
in the coming days to continue planning the bilateral meeting.
HUME