Cablegate: Indonesia Wants More Time to Work Out Health

VZCZCXRO9228
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #2008 3411005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071005Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4053
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USPACOM PRIORITY

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002008

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR P, EAP, CA, DRL, EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SOCI ID AF
SUBJECT: INDONESIA WANTS MORE TIME TO WORK OUT HEALTH
COOPERATION

1. (U) Action request in paragraph 6.
2. (SBU) On December 7, Ambassador met Director General
Ambassador Retno Marsudi to discuss the upcoming visit of
Under Secretary William Burns. Marsudi asked for a
one-on-one meeting with Burns to discuss health cooperation
and Papua. Regarding NAMRU-2, Marsudi described the
difficulties posed by former Health Minister Supari,s
October letter announcing the closure of NAMRU-2. The
Ambassador replied that, if the GoI closes NAMRU prior to
establishing the follow-on Indonesia-U.S. Center for
Biomedical and Public Health Research (IUC), &we won,t
reopen." NAMRU personnel need immediate renewal of their
visas, and must maintain their privileges and immunities or
they will be forced to depart. Marsudi said that she had
briefed new Health Minister Endang, who wanted to delay
opening the IUC until after the planned January 15 date. The
Ambassador said that, as we had come a long way toward
establishing the IUC, it was now time to come to closure on
IUL structure as soon as possible.
Science and Technology: few issues still to be resolved
---------------------------------
3. (SBU) On negotiations over the Science and Technology
Agreement, Americas desk director Bunyan stated that three
issues remain: 1) Material Transfer Agreement; 2)Genetic
Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (GRTKF); and 3)
intellectual property rights, including benefit-sharing. He
stated that the GoI was &ready to discuss8 the outstanding
issues with the U.S. The Ambassador pressed, asking when we
could meet next, and asserting that the agreement should be
concluded prior to the mid-January arrival of Science Envoy
Dr. Bruce Alberts.
Sjafrie visa application: rejection still rankles
-----------------------------------
4. (SBU) Director General Marsudi stated that, at a recent
meeting with Parliamentarians, the Foreign Minister received
numerous questions about the visa case of Sjafrie
Sjamsoeddin. The Minister, she related, downplayed the
issue, describing that GoI,s decision to withdraw the
application after the G-20 meeting had already taken place.
Marsudi asked for assurances that Kopassus commander Wibowo
would not face a similar rejection, and asked that he be able
to make the case for reengagement during Under Secretary
Burns, visit.
Afghanistan
------------------
5. (SBU) The Ambassador suggested that the GoI be prepared to
show its support for Afghanistan by the donors conference at
the end of January. Marsudi replied that, after Secretary
Clinton spoke with Foreign Minister Natalegawa in Singapore,
the Minister made a recommendation to President Yudhoyono,
and awaited his reply.
Joint Statement on Comprehensive Partnership
--------------------
6. (SBU) Action request: Marsudi asked whether the U.S. or
Indonesian side should initiate the draft of a Joint
Statement by the two presidents announcing the Comprehensive
Partnership. Post would appreciate Department/NSC guidance
in order to respond.
HUME

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