JOINT DEMARCHE ON PSI DELIVERED IN THAILAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006551 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, PM/ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015 TAGS: PREL PARM PHSA PINS PTER TH PSI SUBJECT: JOINT DEMARCHE ON PSI DELIVERED IN THAILAND REF: A. STATE 171692 ¶B. BANGKOK 2925 ¶C. BANGKOK 1886 ¶D. BANGKOK 1772 Classified By: Political Counselor Susan Sutton. Reason 1.4 (a and d) ¶1. (C) On October 14, in an attempt to prod Thailand into endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),the Ambassador joined a group of Ambassadors from PSI countries led by Australia and including COMs from Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK in a joint demarche on MFA Deputy Permanent Secretary Thakur Panit. Thakur had previously suggested that Thailand is reluctant to endorse PSI until a "Muslim neighbor" does so first. The Australian Ambassador delivered the points outlined in ref A -- and asked Thailand to join the large numbers of countries already supporting PSI. ¶2. (C) In response, Thakur noted Thailand's compliance with UNSCR 1540 and commitment to curb proliferation. He said that Thailand would certainly endorse PSI, emphasizing that it was just a matter of when. He seemed particularly interested in whether endorsement required any formal, written assurance. The Australian Ambassador suggested that a public statement by an appropriate official would be sufficient. Ambassador Boyce reminded Thakur of their recent conversation with A/S Rademaker during the ARF seminar on missile defense (septel),suggesting that we work together to create a scenario where Thailand could join other countries to endorse PSI prior to the upcoming Asian Senior Talks on Proliferation (ASTOP) in Tokyo in early 2006. Thakur's staff seemed intrigued by this suggestion. COMMENT: SETTING A SCENARIO FOR THAI ENDORSEMENT ¶3. (C) As PM Thaksin has told us previously, Thailand wants to be able to support PSI without exacerbating tensions in the Muslim south. Thakur's staff seem willing to explore a scenario whereby Thailand could endorse PSI publicly in a forum away from Bangkok -- perhaps in Tokyo. Post stands ready to work with PM/INL in creating such a scenario. END COMMENT. BOYCE