VZCZCXRO5721
OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHJA #0741 1180949
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 280949Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2214
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHIC/OIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0613
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0923
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0013
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000741 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, EUR, EUR/SCE, IO 
(SHIRATORI AND PFEUFFER) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019 
TAGS: PREL PBTS ID KV OICCO
SUBJECT: KOSOVO -- ENCOURAGING INDONESIAN RECOGNITION 
 
REF: STATE 41665 
 
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Mission has encouraged Indonesia to 
recognize Kosovo and support the country's bid for membership 
in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.  We 
noted that an increasing number of countries have now 
recognized Kosovo--most recently Saudi Arabia--and that 
Indonesia should do the same.  The GOI continues to review 
the matter.  Other embassies have also raised Kosovo 
recognition with the GOI, receiving the same response.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
URGING RECOGNITION 
 
¶2.  (C) Mission has reiterated U.S. support for Kosovo 
recognition.  Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Cicilia 
Rusdiharini, Deputy Director for American Affairs at the 
Department of Foreign Affairs, on April 28.  He noted that an 
increasing number of countries, including members of the 
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), had recognized 
Kosovo.  Saudi Arabia, for example, had done so on April 20. 
Doing so did not set any precedent for separatist regions in 
other parts of the world.  Poloff underscored that 
recognizing Kosovo would help bring stability to the Balkans. 
 (Note:  The question of a Kosovo precedent is particularly 
sensitive for Indonesia given separatist sentiments in 
regions like Aceh and Papua.) 
 
¶3.  (C) Poloff also urged Indonesia to support Kosovo's bid 
to join the IMF and the World Bank.  The Kosovo government 
was focusing its attention on economic development and 
providing benefits to its people.  Membership in the IMF and 
World Bank would provide critical support to that effort. 
The United States hoped Indonesia would join us in supporting 
Kosovo's membership in these key institutions. 
 
GOI STILL CONSIDERING 
 
¶4.  (U) Rusdiharini took our points on board and said 
Indonesia was still reviewing the matter. 
 
¶5.  (C) DEPLU interlocutors had previously told us that 
recognizing Kosovo was a sensitive political decision given 
Indonesia's own separatist issues.  They had advised that 
Indonesia would not likely make a decision on this matter 
until after this year's presidential election was over. 
(Note:  The first round of voting will be in July.  If 
needed, a runoff would occur in September.) 
 
OTHER MISSIONS ENGAGED 
 
¶6.  (C) A number of European diplomatic missions are also 
pressing the GOI on this matter.  Contacts at the British and 
German Embassies told us they have received the same basic 
message from their Indonesian interlocutors. 
 
HUME