VZCZCXRO4224
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #2051 3110352
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 060352Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0550
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3248
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 3234
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2691
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5578
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5093
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2394
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1431
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1405
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 4080
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 3080
RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 1254
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0982

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002051 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/RSP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/EP 
DEPT FOR EB/IFD/OMA 
NSC FOR E.PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018 
TAGS: ECON ID PREL XC APEC
SUBJECT: US-ASEAN 7:  SUPPORTING A MEETING AT APEC 
 
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Mission recommends a presidential meeting 
with the seven ASEAN leaders present on the margins of the 
November 22-23 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 
Summit in Lima.  Indonesian officials and the ASEAN 
Secretariat propose using such a meeting to discuss the 
global financial crisis, disaster relief, energy, food 
security and trade.  The ASEAN Secretariat is also prepared 
to brief on the Cyclone Nargis relief effort and the way 
ahead after ratification of the ASEAN Charter.  A joint 
briefing by President Bush and President Yudhoyono on the 
G-20 Summit would also highlight Indonesia's importance in 
our partnership with the region.  A meeting would also signal 
Washington's continued commitment to Southeast Asia, 
especially in light of the global financial situation.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
INDONESIAN SUPPORT 
 
¶2.  (C) Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs 
(DEPLU) support holding an ASEAN 7 meeting with the President 
on the margins of the upcoming APEC Summit in Peru.  Ibnu 
Hadi, Director for Intra-Regional Cooperation at DEPLU, said 
Indonesia wanted to discuss the global financial situation, 
energy, food security and disaster relief.  Hadi cautioned 
against discussion of new U.S.-ASEAN issues since the ASEAN 7 
did not represent ASEAN as an entity. 
 
ASEAN SUPPORT 
 
¶3.  (C) ASEAN Secretariat officials likewise urged U.S.-ASEAN 
7 dialogue at the APEC Summit.  Principal Director for 
External Relations Dhannanjaya V. Sunoto said the Secretariat 
was interested in discussing the international response to 
the global financial crisis as well as cooperation in 
disaster management and trade relations.  ASEAN Secretary 
General Surin Pitsuwan was prepared to report on lessons 
learned from the Cyclone Nargis experience in Burma.  Surin 
could also discuss priorities and the future direction of 
ASEAN in light of the recently completed ratification of the 
ASEAN Charter by all member states.  If Washington welcomed 
such briefings, Dhannanjaya suggested, Washington should 
formally request Surin's participation in the meeting. 
 
MISSION'S RECOMMENDATION 
 
¶4.  (C) A discussion of these issues at this time would be 
useful both for the practical aspects involved and to signal 
Washington's commitment to maintaining robust ties with 
Southeast Asia.  Energy and food security are issues of 
considerable concern to Indonesia, as Foreign Minister 
Wirajuda's extensive discussion of the topic in his recent UN 
General Assembly speech made clear.  The discussions and 
proposed ASEAN Secretariat briefings could help inform the 
transition papers that Washington is preparing for the next 
administration. 
 
¶5.  (C) Indonesia is ASEAN's largest nation and is set to 
remain a pivotal partner in our strategic partnership with 
Southeast Asia, from disaster relief to China's influence to 
Burma's role in the region.  Given that Indonesia will be the 
only ASEAN member state represented at the planned G-20 talks 
in Washington on November 15, a joint briefing to ASEAN 
leaders in Lima by President Bush and President Yudhoyono on 
the Washington Summit would reinforce that message. 
 
HUME