Cablegate: Indonesia Non-Committal On Belarus, Matheson

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJA #3217 3191037
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151037Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2080
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 7459
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0546

UNCLAS JAKARTA 013217

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR L/UNA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNGA ILC BO ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIA NON-COMMITTAL ON BELARUS, MATHESON

REF: A. STATE 187018 (DEMARCHE ON BELARUS ANTI-US

RESOLUTION)
B. STATE 186285 (INTERNATIONAL LAW COMMISSION
ELECTION)
C. JAKARTA 13171 (DEMARCHES ON CUBA COUNTRY
RESOLUTIONS)
D. JAKARTA 12506 (ILC: INDONESIA REQUESTS EXCHANGE
OF VOTES)
E. STATE 182628 (RESPONSE TO GOI DIPNOTE)

1. (SBU) On November 15 we met with Harry Purwanto,
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director for North and
Central America, to present demarches on Belarus' anti-U.S.
resolutions (ref A) and to solicit support for the candidacy
of Michael Matheson to the International Law Commission (ref
B).

2.(SBU) Purwanto was familiar with the Belarus problem from
our presentation to him of our views on country-specific
issues last week (ref C). Puwanto accepted our points and
undertook to convey them with the Directorate of Multilateral
Affairs.

3. (SBU) Puwanto was similarly familiar with Mr. Matheson's
ILC candidacy. He thanked us for our presentation and
promised to coordinate our latest approach with the Director
General for Multilateral Affairs.

4. (SBU) Comment. With regard to Belarus' anti-U.S.
resolutions, we believe that - for once - the GOI's
longstanding aversion to country-specific resolutions will
work in our favor. Although Indonesia's voting decision will
likely be made in New York without guidance from Jakarta, the
GOI will probably resist being drawn into this dispute on the
side of Belarus. Concerning Mr. Matheson's ILC candidacy,
the GOI has already proposed a vote swap (ref D) which we
have rebuffed (ref E). This being the case, the GOI is
unlikely to openly declare its support for Mr. Matheson,
although it is not entirely out of the question that
Indonesia might vote for him in the end. End comment
PASCOE

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