LAO RESPONSE ON PSI INITIATIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENTIANE 000404 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EAP/MLS, ISN/CPI, NP, T E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2016 TAGS: MNUC PARM PHSA PGOV PREL KNNP LA SUBJECT: LAO RESPONSE ON PSI INITIATIVE REF: STATE 50811 Classified By: Ambassador Patricia M. Haslach, reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Embassy demarched the MFA's International Organizations Department on March 31 and again on May 4 regarding the PSI initiative, conveying the talking points contained in reftel. International Organizations Director Saleumsai Kommasith told us that the GoL was "closely following" discussion on the PSI initiative, and supported PSI "in principle." He said the GoL fully concurred with PSI's goal of preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. He reminded us that Laos had participated in PSI activities -- the GoL sent several officials (including himself) to a regional workshop on PSI organized by Japan in January -- and would continue to participate in regional workshops and seminars pertaining to PSI. ¶2. (C) Saleumsai cautioned, however, that Laos was a "small country" with limited resources for taking on new responsibilities in international fora. He said his government was concerned that endorsing PSI might create obligations it would be unable to fill and overstretch its capacity. As a result, the GoL was "still researching" whether to sign on to the PSI initiative. ¶3. (C) The Poles have in recent days also demarched the GoL on the PSI initiative. Polish Charge Tomas Gerlasch told us that MFA had conveyed much the same line to him, that they were studying the PSI proposal but could not yet offer an endorsement. HASLACH