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TO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0000
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0000
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0000
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0000
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0000
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0000
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0000
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0000
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0000

UNCLAS STATE 131552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MG
SUBJECT: ASIA PACIFIC DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP 
 
 
¶1.  This is an action request.  (Info only for BEIJING.) See Para 3 
for suggested talking points. For Jakarta, please also note specific 
requests in Para 4. 
 
¶2.  Background, for Embassy Info Only: The President called for the 
formation of the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership in his speech at 
APEC in Sydney on September 7.  This followed on several months of 
development and consultation, including the April 10 approval by 
Deputies of plans to develop a partnership among Asian democracies. 
Subsequent consultations with prospective members led us to broaden 
the concept to an Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP).  We now 
hope to complete consultations with prospective members, and secure 
commitments to participate in APDP.  We are hoping to have an initial 
organizing meeting of the APDP on the margins of the Community of 
Democracies meeting in Bamako, Mali, in November. 
 
¶3.  Action Request: Post is requested to approach the host government 
at an appropriately senior level to secure their commitment on 
participation in the APDP.  A formal response is requested by October 
12 to ensure adequate time to prepare for a November organizing 
meeting in Bamako. Post may draw on the following talking points: 
 
- In his speech in Sydney on September 7, President Bush said, of 
efforts by Asia Pacific countries to support democracy: "These are 
important steps-and now we must build on them by forging new regional 
institutions to encourage the continued expansion of freedom in this 
vital part of the world.  And so this week, the United States is 
proposing the creation of a new Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership 
(APDP).  Through this partnership, free nations will work together to 
support democratic values, strengthen democratic institutions, and 
assist those who are working to build and sustain free societies 
across the Asia Pacific Region." 
 
- This initiative reflects the ideas and input we have received 
during our consultations with the Australian, Canadian, Indian, 
Indonesian, Japanese, New Zealand, Phlippine and South Korean 
governments over the past six months.  We are now hoping to get your 
commitment to participate. 
 
- In addition to the initial group we consulted with, we are now 
asking Mongolia to participate as a founding member of APDP.  Further 
participation would be open to any Asian democracies committed to 
strengthening democratic values and institutions in the region. 
 
- We hope to hold an initial organizing meeting of the APDP in 
Bamako, on the sidelines of the Community of Democracies ministerial. 
As you will be invited to attend the CD ministerial, we see this as 
the ideal venue for the first organizational meeting of the APDP. 
 
-In response to the requests of several governments, we will be 
briefing the Chinese government on the APDP proposal in order to 
address their questions and assist them in understanding our 
intentions in proposing this initiative. 
 
-Please let us know of your government's decision on participation in 
the APDP, including participation in a meeting during the CD 
ministerial. We request a formal response by October 12 to ensure 
adequate time to prepare for the organizing meeting in Bamako. 
 
-If you elect to participate, we would request that you provide us 
with a primary point of contact within your government for APDP. 
 
4.EMBASSY JAKARTA Action: Please contact the office of President 
Yudhoyono, in addition to the appropriate contacts and the Foreign 
Ministry.  The following point is specific to Indonesia: 
 
- We are strongly supportive of suggestions that the first leaders' 
meeting of the APDP should be held in Indonesia, in early 2008. 
Should you agree to host it, we would work with the Australian 
government and others to secure financial and logistical support for 
this meeting. 
 
¶5. EMBASSY BEIJING info: No action required at this time. State and 
NSC will soon develop a near-term plan for briefing China on APDP. 
If raised, embassy may explain focus of APDP activities outlined in 
para 6 and assure Chinese officials that this Partnership is not 
aimed at China or any other nation. 
 
 
6.Action embassies may leave the following background information 
with host governments: 
 
The Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership (APDP) is a proposed new 
initiative to develop a coalition of democracies to support 
democratic institutions in Asia and the Pacific, including free and 
fair electoral processes, independent media, rule of law, human 
rights, and civil society.  It would highlight democracy's progress 
in Asia, as well as the shared values between the United States and 
many Asian nations.  It would build on, and be supportive of, the 
Community of Democracies. 
 
The APDP could be initiated by an initial group comprised of 
Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, 
the Philippines, South Korea and the United States.  Further 
participation would be open to any Asian democratic states committed 
to strengthening democratic values and institutions in the region. 
An APDP would provide a multilateral mechanism for strengthening and 
promoting democracy, rule of law, and civil society in Asia. 
 
The APDP would be action-oriented.  The APDP's activities could be 
initially in three areas: 1) Coordinating existing bilateral 
democracy funding and programs, 2) Sharing "Best Practices" 
expertise, developing election standards, and diplomatic activities, 
and 3) Public/Private Partnerships (e.g. supporting the work of 
democracy-promotion nongovernmental organizations).  Though the 
APDP's structure will be determined by participant governments, one 
possible model for the APDP would be: 
-Each member nation designates a lead official (at a level still to 
be determined) to meet once per year at an APDP Leaders Conference; 
-Each member nation also designates lead agency/office to coordinate 
activities on ongoing basis. 
 
We request a formal response by October 12 to ensure adequate time to 
prepare for a November organizing meeting in Bamako on the margins of 
the Community of Democracies. 
 
¶7.  Post should direct replies and feedback to desk, with a copy to 
John Kachtik (G). 
RICE