US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK6960

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IO/EDA SSTOFEL, EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN, AORC, EAID, TH 
SUBJECT: UN ESCAP: REQUEST FOR TESTIMONY ON ASIAN 
INVESTMENT BANK PROPOSAL 
 
REF: FORSBERG/JONES E-MAIL 11/1/05 AND 
     STOFEL/FORSBERG E-MAIL 11/2/05 
 
1.  (U) This message is an action request. Please see 
paragraph 4. 
 
2.  (U) UN ESCAP has requested nominations of experts to 
participate in the Expert Group Meeting on Development Issues 
and Policies:  Infrastructure Development, to be held in 
Bangkok, Thailand, December 14-15, 2005.  The purpose of this 
meeting is to gather testimony in support of the Executive 
Secretary's proposal for an Asian Investment Bank, which the 
 
SIPDIS 
Executive Secretary will then present to the 62nd Session in 
Jakarta, Indonesia, April 6-12, 2005.  The four areas the 
Expert Group will discuss are as follows:  transport, water, 
information and communication technology, and water. 
 
3.  (U) The Embassy understands that the US Government 
position is to oppose creation of any new bureaucracy such as 
the proposed Asian Investment Bank. Further, it is our 
understanding that the governments of Japan and Australia 
share this view and will be participating in the Expert Group 
Meeting. 
 
4.  (U) Since the Expert Group Meeting provides an 
opportunity for the US Government to go on record without 
drawing undue attention to the Asian Investment Bank 
proposal, the Embassy requests text to be attributed to the 
U.S. Department of the Treasury on the financial aspects of 
development issues for delivery by the Permanent 
Representative at the meeting. 
 
5.  (U) Point of contact for this matter at Embassy Bangkok 
is Aaron Forsberg (telephone:  66-2-205-4698; e-mail: 
ForsbergAP@state.gov). 
BOYCE