US embassy cable - 05MANILA3415

UNCLAS MANILA 003415 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PMBS, EAP/BCLTV, EAP/IET, EAP/RSP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, OTRA, XB, RP 
SUBJECT: 2005 SOUTHEAST ASIA REPORTING OFFICERS CONFERENCE, 
MANILA, OCTOBER 13-14 
 
 
1.  Embassy Manila will host the 2005 Southeast Asia 
Reporting Officers Conference (SEAROC), October 13-14.  Most 
of the event will take place at Mission's historic chancery. 
Please send a front-channel cable confirming attendance, 
security level of participant(s), and flight details as soon 
as possible.  Room bookings will be at a hotel close to the 
Embassy at Manila's per diem daily rate of USD 127.  Please 
note that FY-2005 funds can be obligated for travel that 
commences on or before October 14 (but tickets must be 
purchased and issued prior to close of business on September 
30). 
 
2.  Overall coordinator for the event is Acting Political 
Counselor Joseph L. Novak (Unclass e-mail: novakjl@state.gov, 
Phone: 63-2-522-3566, FAX 63-2-523-1195).  Control officers 
are Poloff Timothy Cipullo (Unclass e-mail: 
CipulloTL@state.gov, Phone: 63-2-522-3566, FAX 63-2-523-1195) 
and Poloff Machut Shishak (Unclass e-mail: 
ShishakM@state.gov, same Phone and FAX). 
 
3.  The conference will include a series of panel 
presentations followed by Q & A sessions.  The conference 
agenda is under development and we would appreciate 
volunteers to give presentations.  Please send your ideas to 
control officers listed above.  At this point, we envision 
the following core areas of focus: 
 
-- U.S. policy priorities in Southeast Asia 
-- Counterterrorism 
-- Domestic political developments in Southeast Asia 
-- ASEAN and the East Asia Summit 
-- Pol/Mil developments 
-- Human Rights and Trafficking in Persons 
-- Corruption 
-- Economics and trade, including free trade agreements 
-- Post-tsunami developments 
-- Health:  Avian Flu, HIV/AIDS, SARS 
-- Tips for reporting officers 
 
4.  We hope to attract speakers from Washington on key 
topics.  In addition, to increase synergies and avoid 
stovepiping, we would welcome participation from info 
addressees as well, at least as observers. 
 
MUSSOMELI