2005 SOUTHEAST ASIA REPORTING OFFICERS CONFERENCE,

UNCLAS MANILA 003415

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PMBS, EAP/BCLTV, EAP/IET, EAP/RSP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON OTRA XB RP
SUBJECT: 2005 SOUTHEAST ASIA REPORTING OFFICERS CONFERENCE,
MANILA, OCTOBER 13-14



1. Embassy Manila will host the 2005 Southeast Asia
Reporting Officers Conference (SEAROC),October 13-14. Most
of the event will take place at Mission's historic chancery.
Please send a front-channel cable confirming attendance,
security level of participant(s),and flight details as soon
as possible. Room bookings will be at a hotel close to the
Embassy at Manila's per diem daily rate of USD 127. Please
note that FY-2005 funds can be obligated for travel that
commences on or before October 14 (but tickets must be
purchased and issued prior to close of business on September
30).


2. Overall coordinator for the event is Acting Political
Counselor Joseph L. Novak (Unclass e-mail: novakjl@state.gov,
Phone: 63-2-522-3566, FAX 63-2-523-1195). Control officers
are Poloff Timothy Cipullo (Unclass e-mail:
CipulloTL@state.gov, Phone: 63-2-522-3566, FAX 63-2-523-1195)
and Poloff Machut Shishak (Unclass e-mail:
ShishakM@state.gov, same Phone and FAX).


3. The conference will include a series of panel
presentations followed by Q & A sessions. The conference
agenda is under development and we would appreciate
volunteers to give presentations. Please send your ideas to
control officers listed above. At this point, we envision
the following core areas of focus:

-- U.S. policy priorities in Southeast Asia
-- Counterterrorism
-- Domestic political developments in Southeast Asia
-- ASEAN and the East Asia Summit
-- Pol/Mil developments
-- Human Rights and Trafficking in Persons
-- Corruption
-- Economics and trade, including free trade agreements
-- Post-tsunami developments
-- Health: Avian Flu, HIV/AIDS, SARS
-- Tips for reporting officers


4. We hope to attract speakers from Washington on key
topics. In addition, to increase synergies and avoid
stovepiping, we would welcome participation from info
addressees as well, at least as observers.

MUSSOMELI