UN ESCAP: REQUEST FOR TESTIMONY ON ASIAN

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006960 SIPDIS FOR IO/EDA SSTOFEL, EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN AORC EAID TH SUBJECT: UN ESCAP: REQUEST FOR TESTIMONY ON ASIAN INVESTMENT BANK PROPOSAL REF: FORSBERG/JONES E-MAIL 11/1/05 AND STOFEL/FORSBERG E-MAIL 11/2/05 ¶1. (U) This message is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (U) UN ESCAP has requested nominations of experts to participate in the Expert Group Meeting on Development Issues and Policies: Infrastructure Development, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, December 14-15, 2005. The purpose of this meeting is to gather testimony in support of the Executive Secretary's proposal for an Asian Investment Bank, which the SIPDIS Executive Secretary will then present to the 62nd Session in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 6-12, 2005. The four areas the Expert Group will discuss are as follows: transport, water, information and communication technology, and water. ¶3. (U) The Embassy understands that the US Government position is to oppose creation of any new bureaucracy such as the proposed Asian Investment Bank. Further, it is our understanding that the governments of Japan and Australia share this view and will be participating in the Expert Group Meeting. ¶4. (U) Since the Expert Group Meeting provides an opportunity for the US Government to go on record without drawing undue attention to the Asian Investment Bank proposal, the Embassy requests text to be attributed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the financial aspects of development issues for delivery by the Permanent Representative at the meeting. ¶5. (U) Point of contact for this matter at Embassy Bangkok is Aaron Forsberg (telephone: 66-2-205-4698; e-mail: ForsbergAP@state.gov). BOYCE