US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK3144

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003144 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/RSP, EAP/BCLTV, AC 
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) 
OSD/ISA (POWERS) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, TH, ASEAN 
SUBJECT: THAILAND: ARF MISSILE DEFENSE CONFERENCE; EAS 
 
REF: BANGKOK 2600 
 
1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Poloffs met with Thai Foreign Ministry 
(MFA) officials to discuss planning details and next steps 
for the Missile Defense Conference which the Royal Thai 
Government (RTG) has agreed to co-host with the U.S. October 
6-7 in Bangkok.  The Thais expect to achieve consensus within 
ASEAN on the proposed conference prior to the ASEAN Regional 
Forum (ARF) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Vientiane.  The 
Thai requested close coordination with the U.S. Delegation to 
the ARF SOM prior to any U.S. presentation on the Missile 
Defense Conference.  In preparation for the Missile Defense 
Conference, the RTG request that the U.S. send a team of 
experts to Bangkok to brief their intra-agency team on 
technical aspects of what will be discussed.  They also want 
close coordination with the U.S. on developing a 
"deliverable" from the conference.  On the separate issue of 
the East Asia Summit (EAS), the MFA officials indicated that 
they expect India, Australia, and New Zealand to be invited 
to the December summit as part of an "inclusive" EAS.  END 
SUMMARY 
 
YES TO BANGKOK MISSILE DEFENSE CONFERENCE: OCTOBER 6-7 
 
2.  (SBU)  On May 10, Poloffs met with several Thai MFA 
officers from the ASEAN Affairs Division to discuss the 
proposed U.S./Thai ARF Missile Defense Conference, and other 
regional issues.  ASEAN Division Counselor Dr. Suriya 
Chindawongse led the Thai side.  Suriya agreed that October 6 
and 7 would be the best dates for the proposed co-hosted 
conference.  The RTG has checked the ASEAN calendar, and 
those dates do not interfere with other ASEAN events.  He 
reiterated that Bangkok would be the preferred venue. 
 
PRESENTING THE CONFERENCE AT THE ARF SOM: "PLEASE COORDINATE" 
 
3.  (SBU)  Suriya said that he expected to have ASEAN 
endorsement for the Missile Defense Conference prior to the 
ARF SOM in Vientiane on May 20.  Suriya said that Thai MFA 
Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn -- who will lead 
the Thai delegation to the SOM -- will give a 
"pre-presentation" on the proposed Missile Defense Conference 
to ASEAN members on May 18.  To date, Suriya has not heard 
any complaints or concerns from other ASEAN members about the 
Missile Defense Conference.  While he is optimistic that 
ASEAN members will not have any serious late-breaking 
reservations about the conference, he noted that "one or two" 
countries at the ARF SOM (which he would not name) might 
raise some concerns.  He advised that the U.S. delegation 
should be prepared to answer questions in Vientiane. 
 
4.  (SBU)  Suriya asked how the U.S. delegation would raise 
the issue of the Missile Defense Conference at the SOM. 
Would the U.S. would present an updated version of the 
concept paper presented in Potsdam?  Suriya recommended that 
the U.S. give a broad presentation, outlining the agenda as 
well as basic logistical information (dates, location). 
Following the U.S. presentation, the Thai delegation will 
immediately offer support for the U.S. proposals.  Suriya 
requested that the U.S. delegation coordinate its 
presentation with the Thai ahead of time. 
 
PREPARING FOR THE CONFERENCE: U.S. EXPERTS BRIEF IN BANGKOK 
 
5.  (SBU)  Following the ARF SOM, the RTG will have an 
intra-agency meeting to discuss the Missile Defense 
Conference and determine responsibilities within the Thai 
government.  As of now, it has not been established whether 
MFA or MOD will have the lead within the Thai bureaucracy. 
Suriya said that the RTG will request a technical briefing on 
the draft agenda from U.S. arms-control experts.  The RTG 
prefers to have the briefing in Bangkok in order to be able 
to include the widest audience possible from within the Thai 
government.  In an aside, Suriya said the briefing would be 
an important factor in bringing the Thai military  on board, 
and that MOD's participation will be a crucial factor in the 
Conference's success. 
 
6.  (SBU)  The Thais said they appreciated that Assistant 
Secretary of State for Arms Control Rademaker would lead the 
 
SIPDIS 
U.S. delegation, and said they would designate an appropriate 
senior official to work with him as co-chair.  They expressed 
appreciation for the U.S. offer to cover the costs of the 
conference, but said that, as "co-hosts" the RTG would host a 
reception during the event. 
 
7.  (SBU)  Suriya asked that the U.S. think about what kind 
of "deliverable" should be expected from the Missile Defense 
Conference.  The Thai expressed concern that an overly 
ambitious outcome document might bog the meeting down.  They 
suggested that an ARF Statement, issued at the ministerial, 
as a possibility; at a minimum, they expect the U.S. and 
Thailand to issue a summary report as co-chairs. 
 
EAS: THAILAND WANTS, EXPECTS, "INCLUSIVE" SUMMIT 
 
8.  (SBU)  Turning to the East Asia Summit, Suriya commented 
that the RTG is following the consensus established at the 
Cebu ministerial.  Suriya stressed that from the beginning, 
Thailand had favored an "inclusive" EAS (reftel), and is 
confident that Australia, India, and New Zealand will be able 
to participate at the December EAS in Kuala Lumpur.  Suriya 
noted that New Zealand is particularly close to receiving an 
invitation, and confided that Prime Minister Clark's visit to 
Bangkok had gone "very well." 
BOYCE