Cablegate: Establishing a Dialogue with Indonesia's New

VZCZCXRO9672
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1837 3090937
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050937Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3727
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001837

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
NSC FOR D. WALTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ID
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING A DIALOGUE WITH INDONESIA'S NEW
LEGISLATORS

REF: JAKARTA 01677 AND PREVIOUS

1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please
handle accordingly.

2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In October 30 meetings with the
Ambassador, newly-elected Indonesian legislative leaders
expressed their commitment to working with the U.S. to
achieve Comprehensive Partnership goals. They discussed
Afghanistan, climate change, education and other key issues
of mutual interest. Legislators also asked that the U.S.
send more official U.S. visitors to Indonesia. Vigorous
early engagement of Parliament is essential given that 75
percent of legislators are new. END SUMMARY.

ENGAGING NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS

3. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Indonesia's new legislative
leaders on key components of our bilateral relationship on
October 30. In separate meetings, Taufik Kiemas,
newly-elected Speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR), and newly-elected political party leaders in
the House of Representatives (DPR) expressed their commitment
to working with the U.S. on Comprehensive Partnership goals.
Kiemas thanked the Ambassador for U.S. support of Indonesia's
G-20 membership. He and other legislators outlined some of
the Parliament's legislative priorities including combating
illegal logging and climate change, better disaster
management, improving health and education, and legislative
capacity-building through training and increased
accountability.

KEY ISSUES ON BILATERAL AGENDA

4. (SBU) Legislative leaders explained that Indonesia is
still trying to determine what its role should be regionally
and internationally. They confirmed that Indonesia wanted to
help regarding Afghanistan, describing Indonesia's current
efforts, which included small-scale Canadian-sponsored
training programs planned for Afghan police and the
possibility that Indonesia could provide training for Afghan
judges. The Ambassador noted as evidence of Indonesia's
productive role internationally its peacekeeping units in
Lebanon and Darfur, its training of Palestinian diplomats,
and the GOI's successful efforts to release Korean aid
workers in Afghanistan two years ago. Indonesia and
Afghanistan should work together on ways to build capacity
and the U.S. stands willing to help that process, the
Ambassador stated.

5. (SBU) The legislators also asked for continued
cooperation on climate change. Noting President Yudhoyono's
commitment to cut emissions by 26 percent from a
business-as-usual scenario, the Ambassador emphasized the
importance of the U.S. and Indonesia continuing to work
together on this issue. On education, legislators asked for
more student scholarships to the U.S. They were pleased to
hear of our new Fulbright agreement, the U.S. plan to double
the number of Indonesian students going to the U.S., and
plans to fund U.S.-Indonesia university partnerships.

MORE U.S. VISITORS, PLEASE

6. (U) The legislators asked for more visits from their
Congressional counterparts and others in the U.S. government.
In particular, they are eagerly awaiting a visit from
President Obama as further proof of our commitment to advance
U.S.-Indonesia relations. The Ambassador noted that
meanwhile Indonesia's G-20 membership provides more
opportunities for interaction between our Presidents. In the
meantime, President Obama and President Yudhoyono were
scheduled to meet on the margins of the upcoming APEC
discussions in Singapore. Overall, the Ambassador concluded,
we strongly support the development of a strong Indonesian
legislative branch and look forward to working with it on
ways to advance bilateral relations.
HUME

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