THAILAND: INITIAL POSITIVE RESPONSE TO GLOBAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004429 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV FOR PM/PPA - MATT HARDIMAN FOR EAP/RSP - LOU ORTIZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015 TAGS: MARR KPKO MASS PGOV TH GPOI SUBJECT: THAILAND: INITIAL POSITIVE RESPONSE TO GLOBAL PEACE OPERATIONS INITIATIVE (GPOI) REF: A. STATE 123760 ¶B. STATE 111757 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i, Alex A. Arvizu, Reason:1.4 (d) (C) On July 5, the Ambassador delivered Ref A talking points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn. Nongnuth Phetcharatana, the MFA Director General for American and South Pacific Affairs, and visiting EAP DAS Eric John were also present. Krit and Nongnuth were receptive to the possibility of Thai participation in the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI),noting the additional opportunity for Thai forces to train alongside U.S. forces would most likely be welcomed the Royal Thai Government. Krit stated that he would discuss the GPOI proposal with Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon prior to the Secretary's visit to Phuket early next week. ARVIZU