US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1268

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001268 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, IO, IO/T, INL/C/CJ 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SNAR, AORC, IR, CE 
SUBJECT: COLOMBO PLAN:  REQUEST DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE IN 
GARNERING SUPPORT FOR ALTERNATIVE AMENDMENT WORKING GROUP 
 
REF: A. STATE 163812 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. COLOMBO 1173 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.  Reasons 1.5(b,d). 
 
1.  (U) This is an Action Request -- please see Para Three. 
 
2.  (C) Mission has received Colombo Plan instructions in Ref 
(A) and will present points on August 4 in the Colombo Plan 
Council meeting.  Prior to the Council meeting, we intend to 
query local representatives (Ambassadors) of other Colombo 
Plan member states for support on these points. 
 
3.  (C) ACTION REQUEST:  If these USG-proposed changes are to 
garner support, it would be helpful if the Department 
considered demarches to select capitals who might be 
sympathetic to our concerns.  In our experience in these 
Council meeting, member states often state the need to query 
capitals for further instructions before expressing a 
position on an issue.  In addition, some members send 
delegations from capitals for these meetings.  Specifically, 
we suggest that the governments of Australia, India, Japan, 
Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand might be queried 
about support for convening a working group to discuss an 
alternative amendment.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
4.  (U) Minimize considered. 
LUNSTEAD