Cablegate: Indonesia - Widjaja Discussion On Sample Sharing

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJA #2086 3170952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120952Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0615
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7840

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002086

SIPDIS
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DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, G/AIAG, L/DL, EAP/EX, AND OES/IHA
DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/WSTEIGER/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH
GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR AMGT PGOV ID KLIG
SUBJECT: INDONESIA - WIDJAJA DISCUSSION ON SAMPLE SHARING

1.(SBU) Dr. Widjaja Lukito, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Health
told us on November 11 that Ministry of Health officials are
concerned that the current U.S. administration may no longer have a
role in sample sharing discussions and in the World Health
Organization Intergovernmental Meeting scheduled in December.
Widjaja asked whether President-elect Obama's transition team would
be represented at the IGM meeting and whether they would be involved
in sample sharing discussions. We advised that the current
administration remains in charge of United States policy until the
Presidential inauguration on January 20. It was in United States
and Indonesia's mutual interests to resolve remaining differences on
our sample sharing positions before the IGM lest the issue drag on
throughout much of 2009. We noted that the current U.S. team
involved in sample sharing discussions is well-versed on the issue,
while the transition team had not yet focused on sample sharing. We
also emphasized that a new Secretary of Health and Human Services
would likely prefer to start a relationship based on positive
partnership opportunities.

2. (SBU) Widjaja remarked that upon a cursory review, the
Indonesians felt that our draft Materials Transfer Agreement (MTA)
presented at the September 21-22 meeting in Manila did not appear to
reflect discussions from the July 25-27 meeting in Sydney. Widjaja
noted that the Indonesians would be meeting on November 18-19 to
thoroughly go over our draft material transfer agreement and other
documents provided and would provide us with official feedback. He
expressed openness to the possibility of conducting a digital video
conference during the week of November 24, to resolve remaining
issues.

3. (SBU) Widjaja advised that a number of the countries represented
through the Third World Network were suspicious of the
U.S.-Indonesian side meetings on sample sharing. He planned to meet
with these countries a day before the IGM meeting in order to
alleviate concerns.

HUME

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