US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK6138

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006138 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EAP FOR A/S HILL AND EAP DAS JOHN NSC FOR MICHAEL GREEN AND 
HOLLY MORROW 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, BM, TH, BURMA 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER KANTATHI CALLS AMBASSADOR TO 
EXPLAIN AP INTERVIEW 
 
REF: BANGKOK 6101 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH BOYCE.  REASON: 1.4 (D) 
 
1.  (C)  Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon telephoned 
the Ambassador on September 26 to give his explanation of the 
flap over his recent interview with Associated Press 
(reftel).  Kantathi maintained that his interviewer, Foster 
Klug, had misrepresented his remarks and had done a similar 
disservice in the past to Thai Ambassador to the United 
States Kasit Piromya.  Nevertheless, Ambassador Kasit had 
inexplicably recommended that Kantathi talk to Klug. 
Kantathi told the Ambassador that the MFA had subsequently 
issued a statement to clarify his remarks and he had 
telephoned Secretary Rice to explain directly. 
 
2.  (C)  The Ambassador responded that he was aware of both 
the MFA statement and of the Foreign Minister's call to the 
Secretary.  He noted that before the MFA's statement, 
 
SIPDIS 
Kantathi's comments had struck a number of people as an 
indication that Thailand was backtracking on various 
assurances (FTA, Burma) given during Prime Minister Thaksin's 
September 19 meeting with the President.  Kantathi hastened 
to reinforce to the Ambassador that Thailand stood by the 
Joint Statement issued following the Oval office meeting. 
 
3.  (C)  The Ambassador pointed out to Kantathi that from his 
early meetings with the Prime Minister he had cautioned about 
the RTG's proclivity for speaking out on Burma in a manner 
that portrayed Thailand to many in the United States as an 
apologist for a criminal regime in Rangoon.  In most 
instances, it was better not to speak at all.  Kantathi 
agreed with the Ambassador's advice, but noted the planned 
visit to Bangkok by Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win in the 
coming weeks.  The Ambassador told Kantathi that the image of 
the RTG welcoming the regime's representative to Bangkok 
would be an unfortunate one.  Kanthati replied that he 
couldn't postpone the visit.  The Ambassador noted that the 
Burmese postponed meetings with regularity, noting UNSYG 
Special Representative Razali Ismael's now-pathetic efforts 
to travel to Rangoon. 
 
4.  (C)  Comment:  As has become customary, Kantathi has come 
up with the "right" things to say, but his tendency to try to 
tailor his response to his audience will likely land him in 
trouble again.  The Foreign Minister could have a difficult 
time parsing his words when the Burmese Foreign Minister 
comes to town next month. 
BOYCE