US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK1431

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001431 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TH, POL/MIL, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: THAILAND: FORMER PRESIDENTS BUSH AND CLINTON 
MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN 
 
1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY: In a February 19 meeting, Prime Minister 
Thaksin thanked former Presidents Bush and Clinton for U.S. 
assistance following the disaster, and highlighted the 
excellent cooperation between the U.S. and Thai militaries. 
Thaksin discussed Thai recovery efforts and plans for the 
affected regions, and pushed for a Bangkok based tsunami 
early warning system (EWS).  The leaders discussed Thaksin's 
recent reelection and Thailand's HIV/AIDS drugs program.  END 
SUMMARY 
 
2.  (SBU) Former Presidents Bush and Clinton met Thai Prime 
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for a discussion and dinner 
meeting on February 19, following the former Presidents' tour 
of tsunami affected areas.  Presidents Bush and Clinton were 
accompanied by Ambassador Boyce; Ambassador Douglas Hartwick; 
and Laura Graham, Chief of Staff to former President Clinton. 
 Prime Minister Thaksin was accompanied by Foreign Minister 
Surakiart Sathirathai, Interior Minister Bhokhin Phonlakun, 
and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit 
Khunkitti. 
 
THANKS BETWEEN FRIENDS 
 
3.  (SBU)  Presidents Bush and Clinton expressed sympathy to 
the Prime Minister and the Thai people for the devastation of 
the western coast of Thailand and for the great loss of life 
from the December 26, 2004 tsunami.  Prime Minister Thaksin 
thanked the two presidents for the strong and immediate U.S. 
response, and the assistance provided by both the USG and the 
American people.  Thaksin said that the Thai people were 
deeply touched that President Bush and former Presidents Bush 
and Clinton had all personally visited the Thai Embassy in 
Washington to sign the book of condolences. 
 
4.  (SBU)  The former Presidents expressed appreciation for 
the excellent cooperation by the Royal Thai Government (RTG) 
and the Thai military in supporting regional U.S. 
humanitarian relief efforts, particularly the use of the Thai 
military facility at Utapao.  The Presidents praised the 
excellent working relations between the U.S. and Thai 
militaries that had made our collective relief response 
possible in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.  Foreign 
Minister Surakiart added that USAID had also been very 
helpful in the relief effort. 
 
RECOVERY: A TOUGH JOB, BUT MOVING FORWARD 
 
5.  (SBU)  Presidents Bush and Clinton commented on the 
scenes of destruction that they had seen during their tour of 
the impacted provinces, remarking that they had been deeply 
affected by the destruction.  They noted, however, that they 
were equally impressed by the extent of the clean up, and the 
energy and vitality of the Thai people who were busy putting 
the region back together.  Prime Minister Thaksin said that 
the RTG had worked hard in the immediate aftermath of the 
tsunami, with some 6,000 military personnel contributing to 
 
SIPDIS 
relief efforts.  Thaksin noted that the RTG had evacuated 
some 5,000 foreign tourists within 2 days of the disaster, 
and had paid the medical bills of tourists injured by the 
tsunami.  Foreign Minister Surakiart explained that the Prime 
 
SIPDIS 
Minister had been directly involved in relief and recovery 
efforts from the beginning, noting that Thaksin had traveled 
to Phuket every two days during the immediate crisis to 
personally take charge of recovery efforts. 
 
6.  (SBU)  Thaksin optimistically estimated that most 
affected areas would be largely recovered by the end of the 
year, but noted that Phi Phi Island, which had been 
devastated, would take longer to recover.  The Prime Minister 
said the RTG had begun a large-scale housing program that 
would eventually produce some 50,000 homes for displaced 
persons. 
 
7.  (SBU)  While recovery efforts are moving ahead, the Prime 
Minister said the RTG was seeking additional cooperation and 
assistance both from foreign governments and from the private 
sector.  Thaksin proudly noted that Thailand had not asked 
for, or received cash assistance, but said they did need 
specialized technical assistance.  He said that environmental 
recovery efforts were of particular concern, and would 
require additional expertise.  Thaksin also highlighted how 
important the tourism industry is for Thailand's economy.  He 
said that Thailand needed to get the message out to potential 
tourists that they are welcome and that hotels are ready to 
receive them. 
 
EARLY WARNING DIPLOMACY 
 
8.  (SBU)  The former Presidents asked the Prime Minister 
about the proposed regional tsunami early warning system. 
Thaksin said that Thailand had hosted a meeting January 28-29 
meeting in Phuket with representatives of all concerned 
countries, including the U.S.  Thaksin said that the meeting 
had produced agreement that all countries needed to be 
linked, however, they were unable to reach consensus on 
Thailand's proposal that Bangkok be the site of the proposed 
early warning center.  Thaksin said that regardless of the 
final decision on the location of the regional center, 
Thailand would develop its own early warning system, which he 
hoped to have in place by the end of April 2005.  Thaksin 
also noted that ASEAN member countries had agreed to 
establish a "standby" agreement to pool information about 
resources so that in future disasters response times would be 
drastically reduced. 
 
HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS IN THAILAND 
 
9.  (SBU)  Prime Minister Thaksin asked former President 
Clinton about his work on HIV/AIDS, and the possibility that 
Thai firms could become involved in efforts to produce 
inexpensive anti-retroviral drugs for AIDS victims. 
President Clinton stated that he was very interested in 
expanding HIV/AIDS drug availability, noting that his AIDS 
Foundation was having some modest success in providing 
affordable drugs to victims.  President Clinton said the key 
to expanding drug coverage was ensuring that local 
authorities establish a medically credible system to provide 
the drugs to patients in a regulated manner.  Thaksin claimed 
that Thai pharmaceutical companies could produce 
anti-retroviral drugs more cheaply than other countries, 
including India.  President Clinton promised to explore 
having his foundation purchase drugs from Thai firms. 
 
THAKSIN'S REELECTION 
 
10.  (SBU)  Presidents Bush and Clinton congratulated the 
Prime Minister on his convincing victory during the February 
6 national elections.  President Clinton praised Thaksin for 
his effective leadership and for being a strong friend of the 
U.S.  Thaksin thanked the Presidents for their sentiments, 
and agreed that the Thai people had given his Thai Rak Thai 
party a powerful mandate by giving them 378 of the 500 seats 
in Parliament, a historic number in Thailand's modern 
democratic history.  Ambassador Boyce noted that this was the 
first time that a Prime Minister enjoyed a full majority. 
 
11.  (SBU)  Former Presidents Bush and Clinton did not have 
the opportunity to clear this cable. 
BOYCE