Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK1205
2007-02-28 09:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI MINISTER DISAVOWS IRANIAN CLAIM HE SUPPORTED
how-toVZCZCXRO9934 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1205 0590944 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 280944Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5166 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 6706 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1681 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0109 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5156 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001205
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR TH
SUBJECT: THAI MINISTER DISAVOWS IRANIAN CLAIM HE SUPPORTED
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
REF: OSC REPORT IAP20070226950045
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001205
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR TH
SUBJECT: THAI MINISTER DISAVOWS IRANIAN CLAIM HE SUPPORTED
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
REF: OSC REPORT IAP20070226950045
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Sittichai Pokai-udom, Minister of Information and
Communications Technology, contacted the Ambassador on
February 28 in response to a Tehran Fars News Agency article
(reftel) that claimed he had "voiced his country's full
support for the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear plans."
(Note: The quotation represents a paraphrasing of Sittichai's
alleged view. End Note.)
2. (C) Sittichai explained he had met, at the Iranian
Ambassador's request, with the Iranian Ambassador and another
Iranian (NFI). He claimed the press report completely
misconstrued his position. He told us he had in fact told
the Iranian Ambassador that the RTG suspected the Iranians
were using their nuclear program for other than peaceful
energy purposes, and this was not good. Sittichai said he
had spoken with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, and the RTG
would issue a rebuttal. Sittichai said he wanted to ensure
that this false press report did not cause difficulties with
the USG.
3. (C) Comment: We are unsure whether, as he claimed,
Sittichai did in fact reprimand the Iranians for their
nuclear activities. However, we do believe it possible that
the Iranians took liberties in how they represented their
conversation with Sittichai. Although Sittichai's portfolio
does not include nuclear issues, his background is in
engineering rather than politics, and it strikes us as quite
possible that he might have exceeded his brief during the
meeting with the Iranians.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR TH
SUBJECT: THAI MINISTER DISAVOWS IRANIAN CLAIM HE SUPPORTED
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
REF: OSC REPORT IAP20070226950045
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Sittichai Pokai-udom, Minister of Information and
Communications Technology, contacted the Ambassador on
February 28 in response to a Tehran Fars News Agency article
(reftel) that claimed he had "voiced his country's full
support for the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear plans."
(Note: The quotation represents a paraphrasing of Sittichai's
alleged view. End Note.)
2. (C) Sittichai explained he had met, at the Iranian
Ambassador's request, with the Iranian Ambassador and another
Iranian (NFI). He claimed the press report completely
misconstrued his position. He told us he had in fact told
the Iranian Ambassador that the RTG suspected the Iranians
were using their nuclear program for other than peaceful
energy purposes, and this was not good. Sittichai said he
had spoken with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, and the RTG
would issue a rebuttal. Sittichai said he wanted to ensure
that this false press report did not cause difficulties with
the USG.
3. (C) Comment: We are unsure whether, as he claimed,
Sittichai did in fact reprimand the Iranians for their
nuclear activities. However, we do believe it possible that
the Iranians took liberties in how they represented their
conversation with Sittichai. Although Sittichai's portfolio
does not include nuclear issues, his background is in
engineering rather than politics, and it strikes us as quite
possible that he might have exceeded his brief during the
meeting with the Iranians.
BOYCE