MFA PROPOSES NOVEMBER 7 AND 8 FOR STRATEGIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005456

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA (POWERS)
NSC FOR MORROW
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2015
TAGS: PGOV MARR MASS TH
SUBJECT: MFA PROPOSES NOVEMBER 7 AND 8 FOR STRATEGIC
DIALOGUE

REF: BANGKOK 5366

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (a and d)


1. (C) MFA PermSec Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn told the
Ambassador on August 24 that the RTG looks forward to our
upcoming Dialogue to discuss security matters. Krit
confirmed that he will head the Thai delegation for the
Dialogue and that other Ministries, including the military
and NSC, will be represented. Krit formally suggested the
Dialogue be held in Bangkok on November 7 and 8 and asked
whether Washington could agree to those dates.


2. (C) Krit suggested that any joint statement issued after
the upcoming September 19 bilateral meeting between PM
Thaksin Shinawatra and the President make mention of
Thaksin's pledge to set into motion an "Action Plan" to
strengthen the bilateral relationship and highlight the
Dialogue as a key part of that Action Plan. Krit suggested
that an "Action Plan" could be virtually anything that we
wanted it to be and suggested that discussion of additional
ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship would be a good
topic for the Dialogue.


3. (C) MFA DG for American Affairs Nongnuth Phetcharatana
noted our need to now coordinate an agenda for the Dialogue.
She indicated that, in addition to the agenda topics
discussed in reftel, the Thai would like to discuss seeking a
possible MOA on defense procurement modeled after the recent
MOA between the United States and Australia. She also asked
that we use MFA's North American Affairs Division and the
Embassy as the conduit for setting the final agenda.


4. (C) In an aside with PolOff, Nongnuth suggested that the
MOA would ideally help Thai private companies bid on U.S.
defense contracts and serve as a tangible way to demonstrate
benefits of Thailand's designation as a Major Non Nato Ally
(MNNA). Nongnuth also said that, contrary to her suggestions
outlined in reftel, the RTG may not have any problem with our
designating the talks a "Strategic Dialogue." She asked for
a few days to consult with other parts of her Government to
arrive at a coordinated position on the name.
BOYCE