VZCZCXRO9222
RR RUEHCHI RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHDT #0221/01 2360049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240049Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4507
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1316
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1151
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1124
RHMFIUU/USFJ COMMAND CENTER
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4045

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DILI 000221 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PACOM FOR CAPT PKELLY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PREL TT
SUBJECT: U.S.-TIMOR-LESTE BILATERAL MILITARY CONSULTATIONS 
 
DILI 00000221  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: The first U.S.-Timor-Leste Bilateral Defense 
Discussion (BDD) took place in Dili on August 18.  The two 
delegations discussed the full range of military-to-military 
activities, from strategic dialogue and operational cooperation 
to planning and executing training, exercises, exchanges and 
related activities.  The Timorese delegation briefed its Force 
2020 strategy, highlighting the creation of a national maritime 
authority and a long-term interest in participating in 
peacekeeping operations.  The Timorese reiterated a 
long-standing request for a U.S. legal advisor and sought 
technical and legal assistance in the creation of a national 
maritime authority.  The U.S. discussed its current operational 
plan, including an exercise in Timor-Leste involving nearly 
2,800 U.S. marines scheduled for October 2009.  The BDD is an 
important step in our efforts to professionalize the Timorese 
military and keep it focused on a well-defined national security 
mission.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (U) Timor-Leste hosted a visiting U.S. delegation on August 
18 for the first-ever U.S.-Timor-Leste Bilateral Defense 
Discussion (BDD).  The U.S. delegation was headed by the 
Ambassador and Captain Patrick Kelly, Chief of the Southeast 
Asia Policy Division at U.S. Pacific Command.  The Timorese side 
was led by Dr. Julio Pinto, Secretary of State for Defense, and 
Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, Chief of the Defense Force of 
Timor-Leste (F-FDTL).  Both delegations included representatives 
from multiple service branches and the wider defense and 
security community. 
 
 
 
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Developing the Timorese Force 
 
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¶3. (U) The Timorese delegation described the F-FDTL's continuing 
transition from a guerrilla force to one focused on conventional 
warfare, nation building and responding to unconventional 
transnational threats.  The 2006 petitioners crisis, during 
which roughly one-third of the military's force strength walked 
off the job and was eventually fired, was a large setback for 
the military, costing it hundreds of trained personnel, as well 
as lost equipment, and creating poor morale throughout the 
force.  F-FDTL is still recovering from the petitioners crisis 
and is still looking for ways to speed the retirement of 
guerrilla-era veterans and to address the force's inadequate 
equipment. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (U) Both the Ministry of Defense and the F-FDTL will be 
restructured in accordance with a series of laws relating to 
national defense and security working their way through the 
National Parliament.  In addition to legal reforms, the F-FDTL 
is reorienting its recruiting process and increasing the 
educational requirements for incoming personnel.  F-FDTL intends 
to grow to a force strength of 1,980 by 2012, and 3000 regulars 
by 2020, up from roughly 600 trained soldiers today.  The F-FDTL 
is currently training approximately another 600 who will not 
finish basic and special skills training until next year. Basic 
and advanced training assistance is expected to come from 
Portugal, with Australia providing more specialized training. 
The U.S. is reviewing possible avenues to use Navy engineers to 
augment Australia's efforts to provide specialized engineer 
training. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U) The Timorese delegation highlighted two particular 
challenges and goals.  The first is the creation of a new 
national maritime authority, which will require the F-FDTL to 
develop its naval capacity.  The second goal is the ability to 
participate in UN peacekeeping operations.  The Timorese hope to 
first deploy observers, then embed personnel with bilateral 
 
DILI 00000221  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
partners, before eventually forming a dedicated peacekeeping 
contingent of their own.  The English language skills of F-FDTL 
personnel will need to improve dramatically for UN PKO to be a 
realistic possibility. 
 
 
 
---------------------- 
 
U.S. Engagement 
 
---------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) The U.S. side underscored the importance of recent 
engagement activities such as the Pacific Angel and Pacific 
Partnership humanitarian missions that treated over 4,000 and 
10,000 patients in 2009 and 2008, respectively.  A detachment 
from Navy Construction Battalion One just recently relieved the 
first Seabee detachment to complete a 6-month rotation in 
Timor-Leste.  Looking ahead, the 2800-strong U.S. Marine 
exercise scheduled to take place in Timor-Leste in October will 
provide opportunity for the largest-scale opportunity to date 
for interaction between the two militaries. 
 
 
 
¶7.  (U) The U.S. provided Timor-Leste with a draft memorandum of 
understanding to guide future military-to-military activities. 
The MOU outlines strategic goals and supplements the 2002 Status 
of Forces Agreement.  The Timorese delegation appreciated 
receiving a draft but cautioned that formal approval could be a 
time-consuming process as they must forward it to the President 
and Prime Minister's Office for review and consideration. 
 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Timorese delegation reminded that they have 
requested a U.S. legal advisor to assist both the Chief of 
Defense and Secretary of State for Defense since early 2008. 
Both emphasized that a U.S. legal advisor with military and 
civil law experience remains a critical need, while Portuguese 
language skills are not necessary.  Secretary Pinto also 
strongly requested legal and technical assistance from the U.S. 
in establishing a national maritime authority to develop law and 
policy and coordinate the creation of maritime security 
capabilities.  General Ruak repeated his earlier request for 
access to additional U.S. training billets.  He also offered use 
of the Baucau air field to U.S. forces and asked that the U.S. 
cooperate in the identification and development of military 
training areas in Timor-Leste for use by Timorese forces and 
those from international partners. 
 
 
 
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Transparency Begets Transparency 
 
------------------------------------------ 
 
 
 
¶9.  (SBU) In an effort to promote transparency and coordination, 
the visiting U.S. delegation briefed Timor Leste's diplomatic 
corps and defense attaches. This conference included discussion 
on U.S. military engagement with Timor-Leste as well as the 
outcome of the bilateral talks.  The forum encouraged other 
donor nations to share their current and planned engagements 
with the host nation reducing the chance of duplicating efforts. 
  The Chinese DATT acknowledged that there is a delay in 
delivering the recently acquisitioned patrol boats as the 
manufacturer is still waiting for payment. 
 
 
 
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COMMENT 
 
DILI 00000221  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
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¶10.  (SBU) The BDD was another indication of the enthusiasm 
Timor-Leste has for dealing with the United States on defense 
and security matters.  The day before the dialogue Secretary 
Pinto released a long article in the local press praising U.S. 
defense cooperation, in particular the respect the U.S. showed 
Timor-Leste by pursuing activities in a truly collaborative 
fashion.  Military engagement has become a very positive 
component of our bilateral relationship with Timor-Leste, one 
which will continue to provide real benefits in the months and 
years ahead.  To secure the success of future bilateral 
engagement, we must now respond positively and promptly to 
Timor-Leste's long-standing request for a U.S. military advisor. 
 Further, U.S. assistance to the creation of Timor-Leste's 
national maritime authority could be critical to the success of 
a key entity in developing realistic and well-coordinated 
maritime security capabilities. 
KLEMM