IRAN RESOLUTION DEMARCHE - THAI RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007125 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015 TAGS: PHUM TH SUBJECT: IRAN RESOLUTION DEMARCHE - THAI RESPONSE REF: STATE 207928 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH L. BOYCE reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador made reftel demarche points to MFA Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn on November 16. Permsec Krit responded that the Thai government normally supports no action motions on individual countries, except in the case of blatant abuses such as the massacres in Sudan. The Ambassador reminded Krit that Deputy Prime Minister (and candidate for UN Secretary General) Surakiat Sathirathai told the President during the September Oval Office meeting with PM Thaksin that he wanted to work with the US to ensure the UN's credibility, and that the UNHRC was the area most in need of reform. Krit's description of RTG policy did not seem to be consistent with the Dep PM's statements. Krit responded that it was the policy of the RTG to delink the personal views of the Thai candidate for UN office from official RTG policy. However, Krit agreed to consult on our points and said he would get back to us. ¶2. (C) Comment: Given the sensitive situation in the southern provinces, the government is particularly concerned about appearing to side with the U.S. against Muslim countries. We think it is unlikely that the Thai will change their previous practice and support our position. Ambassador told Krit that, if the RTG decides it cannot oppose the no action vote, it should at least consider abstaining. BOYCE