US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK7125

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007125 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, TH, Demarche, Iran 
SUBJECT: IRAN RESOLUTION DEMARCHE - THAI RESPONSE 
 
REF: STATE 207928 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH L. BOYCE reason 1.4 (b) (d) 
 
 1.  (C)  Ambassador made reftel demarche points to MFA 
Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn on November 16. 
Permsec Krit responded that the Thai government normally 
supports no action motions on individual countries, except in 
the case of blatant abuses such as the massacres in Sudan. 
The Ambassador reminded Krit that Deputy Prime Minister (and 
candidate for UN Secretary General) Surakiat Sathirathai told 
the President during the September Oval Office  meeting with 
PM Thaksin that he wanted to work with the US to ensure the 
UN's credibility, and that the UNHRC was the area most in 
need of reform.  Krit's description of RTG policy did not 
seem to be consistent with the Dep PM's statements.  Krit 
responded that it was the policy of the RTG to delink the 
personal views of the Thai candidate for UN office from 
official RTG policy. However, Krit agreed to consult on our 
points and said he would get back to us. 
 
2.  (C)  Comment: Given the sensitive situation in the 
southern provinces, the government is particularly concerned 
about appearing to side with the U.S. against Muslim 
countries. We think it is unlikely that the Thai will change 
their previous practice and support our position. Ambassador 
told Krit that, if the RTG decides it cannot oppose the no 
action vote, it should at least consider abstaining. 
BOYCE