VZCZCXRO8714
PP RUEHPT
DE RUEHBY #0855/01 2610736
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 180736Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2044
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 5520
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 6665
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 4919
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 4930
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9908
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3683
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9594
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 1793
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 2619
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0115
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 2188
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000855 
 
SIPDIS 
NOFORN 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/ANP, EAP/K, EAP/MTS 
PACOM FOR POLAD PICUTTA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KS ID AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA-ROK-INDONESIA TRILATERAL DISCUSSION 
 
Classified by Pol/Econ Counselor Edgard Kagan for reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C/NF) An inaugural trilateral held in Canberra on September 9 
between Australia, the ROK and Indonesia resulted in a vehicle still 
in search of an idea.  While the concept has strong support from the 
heads of government, the trilateral discussion was wide ranging and 
did not produce substantive results.  The ROK would like to become 
more involved in Southeast Asia and Australia and Indonesia see this 
as a chance to deepen their involvement in the Korean peninsula.  End 
Summary. 
 
A Vehicle in Search of an Idea 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (C/NF) A September 9 trilateral meeting between Australia, the 
Republic of Korea (ROK) and Indonesia aimed to test the waters for a 
more structured meeting between foreign ministers or heads of 
government on the margins of a future summit.  According to Dave 
Sharma, Director of the Indonesia section in Australia's Department 
of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Koreans initiated the 
trilateral, but a strong relationship between the three heads of 
government was the driving force.  DFAT's Deputy Secretary and 
Ambassador to ASEAN Gillian Bird, ROK Deputy-Foreign Minister Lee 
Yong-joong, and Indonesia's Director General for Asia-Pacific and 
African Affairs Hamzah Thayeb (formerly Ambassador in Canberra) 
participated in the one hour meeting. 
 
¶3. (C/NF) According to Sharma, the three countries discussed a range 
of issues including strengthening the role of the G-20, climate 
change, regional architecture and coordinating regulation and 
financial reforms in the wake of the global slowdown.  Discussions 
did not lead to action items or resolutions.  Sharma said he was 
surprised by the uncharacteristic ROK suggestion to avoid concept 
papers, or even an agenda, in order to pursue a "free-flowing 
discussion." 
 
Motivations 
----------- 
 
¶4. (C/NF) Sharma noted that the ROK is looking to become more 
involved in Southeast Asia and sees Australia and Indonesia as the 
two logical partners.  Indonesia, in turn, expressed interest in 
greater involvement in North Asian affairs, particularly concerning 
disarmament in the Korean peninsula.  Sharma stated that Australia 
would "not be opposed" to playing a greater role in supporting 
stability in the Korean peninsula, but acknowledged that the GOA's 
role is necessarily limited as it is not a member of the six-party 
talks. 
 
¶5. (C/NF) ROK Jakarta Embassy Political Counselor Kim Gunn, who 
traveled to Canberra to participate in the meeting, told us that the 
initiative was the product of a long discussion between PM Rudd and 
ROK President Lee Myung Bak during Lee's March visit.  Lee and Rudd 
hit it off so well that Rudd asked Lee to come to his house for an 
after-dinner drink, which turned into a free-wheeling two hour 
session that led to the idea of a trilat with Indonesia.  Lee went on 
to Jakarta the next day and was surprised to hear President Yudhoyono 
say that Rudd had called to extol the ROK President and urge 
Indonesia to agree to a trilat.  Kim said that President Lee had 
QIndonesia to agree to a trilat.  Kim said that President Lee had 
personally told him to "make this happen," stressing his desire to 
build on his relationship with Rudd as well as build a partnership 
with Yudhoyono.  Kim said that Indonesian MFA officials were clearly 
surprised by their President's support for the idea, reluctant to 
move forward but came around when it became clear that Yudhoyono was 
serious about the idea. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6. (C/NF) This first trilateral discussion was relatively informal 
and we were left with the impression that the Australians are open to 
future discussions, but not necessarily eager to take a leading role. 
 It is also unclear just how motivated the Indonesians are in 
pursuing this trilateral given the strong relationship that already 
 
CANBERRA 00000855  002 OF 002 
 
 
exists with Australia.  Post notes that the idea for holding the 
trilateral likely grew out of extensive conversations President Lee 
Myung-Bak had with Prime Minister Rudd during Lee's recent visit to 
Australia.  Unless the trilateral meetings find an idea to power the 
vehicle, future discussions may continue to be short and relatively 
insubstantial. 
 
CLUNE