THAI FOREIGN MINISTER ON EAST ASIA SUMMIT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007731 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2015 TAGS: PREL TH BURMA SUBJECT: THAI FOREIGN MINISTER ON EAST ASIA SUMMIT AND BURMA Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH BOYCE. REASON: 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: During a December 16 conversation with the Ambassador, Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Supamongkol gave an upbeat assessment of the December 14 inaugural East Asia Summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Kantathi said that the EAS put the Avian Flu challenge, cooperation against international terrorism and Malacca Straits Security high on its agenda. He said that China and Japan generally got along, though there was "some problem with the shrine issue." The Ambassador welcomed "at last" Thailand's promised public criticism of the Burmese regime. Kantathi said that Malaysia Foreign Minister Hamid has made access to Aung San Suu Kyi a precondition for his agreement to visit Burma. The Thai Foreign Minister characterized Thai-Malaysian relations as "much better." End summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador called on Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Supamongkol on December 16 to hear his assessment of the recent East Asia Summit held in Kuala Lumpur. Kantathi described the meeting as positive, and said that the EAS decided that it will gather annually, with next year's summit to be held in Cebu. He said that the meeting participants also decided that membership criteria will be based on the applicant country having an established dialogue with ASEAN, having signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and having a substantive relationship with ASEAN. Kantathi added that Russia, which wanted to enter the EAS, satisfied the first two conditions but not the third yet. ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Kantathi said that the EAS put the Avian Flu challenge, cooperation against international terrorism and Malacca Straits security high on its agenda. He also said that the Summit decided to focus future deliberations on ways to cooperate on energy supply and investment. Prime Minister Thaksin called for regional approaches to problems such as the haze that annually emanates from burning forests in Indonesia. ¶4. (C) At the session, China and Japan "got along, though there was some problem with the shrine issue," Kantathi said. He said that Australia and New Zealand, "though 'not Asian' had a good role to play." China used the forum to promote its policy of "peace and development." In answer to Kantathi's query, the Ambassador stated that the U.S. had no position on Russian membership in EAS. The Ambassador said that, despite the views in some negative press articles, the U.S. "does not have to be at every meeting." ¶5. (C) Turning to Burma, the Ambassador told Kantathi that he welcomed "at last" initial steps by Thailand to deliver on its promises to publicly criticize the Burmese regime. Kantathi replied that "it was time," in view of the extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention by the authorities and the slowness of the pace of reform in the country. He added that it was important to "keep the door open" to communicate strong messages to the regime. Kantathi said that, in response to the Burmese agreeing to invite him to visit the country, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hamid had set a precondition that he must be allowed access to Aung San Suu Kyi. He added that the first suggested date for the visit, pending the regime's agreement to allow Hamid access to Aung San Suu Kyi, is January 4, 2006. ¶6. (C) Kantathi said that relations between Thailand and Malaysia have improved measurably recently. He added that the turnover of one of the Thai Malays who had fled to Malaysia and was suspected of violence in Thailand's south became possible with the Malaysian Government's win in the Kelantan by-election. He said that the RTG is seeking access to question the other 130 Thai remaining in Malaysia. He said that those who wish to return to Thailand can, with safety guarantees. Those who wish to stay outside of Thailand will be allowed to do so. BOYCE