THAILAND: COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002699 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM TH SUBJECT: THAILAND: COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES REF: STATE 66796 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Phantipha Iamsudha, Counselor, Social Affairs Division of the MFA International Organizations Division. Phantipha said Foreign Minister Khantathi will not be able to attend the April 28-30 Community of Democracies Ministerial in Santiago because he will be accompanying Prime Minister Thaksin on an official visit to Jordan and Oman. Dr. Pracha Kuna-kasem, senior advisor to the Foreign Minister, will lead the Thai delegation. (NOTE: Pracha is a close political ally of the Prime Minister. He was a founding member of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai political party. END NOTE) ¶2. (SBU) Phantipha said the Thai delegation will actively participate in the "Second Round Table," but did not offer any other specific initiatives that Thailand will present at the meeting. The Thai delegation will not request a bilateral meeting with the U.S. delegation. BOYCE