NOTIFYING BANGKOK ABOUT APCSS SEMINARS AND

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001635 SIPDIS APCSS FOR GENERAL STACKPOLE FROM BANGKOK DCM ARVIZU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AMGT TH POL MIL SUBJECT: NOTIFYING BANGKOK ABOUT APCSS SEMINARS AND TRAINING COURSES ¶1. (U) General Stackpole, As you know, our Mission in Bangkok is a long-standing supporter of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. The courses you have organized are among the best of their type in the world. Thai alumni return better informed about vital issues of mutual concern and better prepared to work with American counterparts. We will continue to work with your staff to identify qualified military and civilian candidates who will benefit from the excellent training APCSS provides and who will make candid contributions to your courses. ¶2. (U) Recently, however, we have had a few problems coordinating responsibilities among the various U.S. military and civilian offices in Bangkok with a stake in APCSS courses and seminars. At times, the confusion stemmed from informal emails from APCSS alerting either JUSMAGTHAI or DAO Bangkok about upcoming courses. In order to avoid these problems, I ask that future notifications of courses or seminars be made via front channel cable to Embassy Bangkok. Doing so will insure that the Ambassador and I determine which Embassy office would be best able to provide a participant for an APCSS seminar or be assigned primary responsibility for selecting Thai candidates to attend an APCSS course. I assure you that we will be responsive and more quickly and effectively able to support your work if we receive future notifications front channel. ¶3. (U) Sincerely yours, Alexander A. Arvizu Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy, Bangkok BOYCE