Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK5569
2007-10-28 23:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
BURMA SUMMIT PARTICIPATION DEMARCHE DELIVERED;
how-toVZCZCXRO1375 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHBK #5569 3012341 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 282341Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0365 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5223 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHFJSCC/COMMARFORPAC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005569
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL TH BM
SUBJECT: BURMA SUMMIT PARTICIPATION DEMARCHE DELIVERED;
ISSUES WITH WHITE HOUSE INVITATION
REF: STATE 148530
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 005569
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL TH BM
SUBJECT: BURMA SUMMIT PARTICIPATION DEMARCHE DELIVERED;
ISSUES WITH WHITE HOUSE INVITATION
REF: STATE 148530
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to MFA Permsec
Virasakdi Futrukul on October 26. (Foreign Minister was
unavailable due to impending travel.) Virsaksi had no
immediate official reaction. Speaking personally, however,
he cautioned that this ASEAN-wide demarche could elicit an
adverse reaction. Virasakdi based this concern on his recent
meetings in Singapore, attending the ASEAN SOM. At this
meeting, senior officials discussed the White House
invitation to ASEAN leaders. Virasakdi said that there was a
"hostile atmosphere" toward the invitation because it put
conditions on ASEAN (as the invitation excludes the Burmese
leadership.) Virasakdi added that this had nothing to do
with support for Burma; the ASEAN officials were simply
adverse to another country imposing conditions on them.
Virasakdi speculated that this "hostile atmosphere" might
extend to this latest US demarche as well.
2. (C) Clarifying his comments on the White House invitation
to ASEAN leaders, Virasakdi noted that there was as yet no
official response to the invitation. Singapore, as ASEAN
Chair, would have to check with senior levels in each member
state before ASEAN had an official position.
3. (C) COMMENT: We appreciate Virasakdi's efforts to give
us some insight into the mindset of ASEAN country officials
at this time, and recognize that we have to take into account
the ASEAN's unhappiness over our insistance that they have to
do more. Nevertheless, we will encourage our interlocutors to
respond to our reasonable points in a reasoned fashion.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL TH BM
SUBJECT: BURMA SUMMIT PARTICIPATION DEMARCHE DELIVERED;
ISSUES WITH WHITE HOUSE INVITATION
REF: STATE 148530
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to MFA Permsec
Virasakdi Futrukul on October 26. (Foreign Minister was
unavailable due to impending travel.) Virsaksi had no
immediate official reaction. Speaking personally, however,
he cautioned that this ASEAN-wide demarche could elicit an
adverse reaction. Virasakdi based this concern on his recent
meetings in Singapore, attending the ASEAN SOM. At this
meeting, senior officials discussed the White House
invitation to ASEAN leaders. Virasakdi said that there was a
"hostile atmosphere" toward the invitation because it put
conditions on ASEAN (as the invitation excludes the Burmese
leadership.) Virasakdi added that this had nothing to do
with support for Burma; the ASEAN officials were simply
adverse to another country imposing conditions on them.
Virasakdi speculated that this "hostile atmosphere" might
extend to this latest US demarche as well.
2. (C) Clarifying his comments on the White House invitation
to ASEAN leaders, Virasakdi noted that there was as yet no
official response to the invitation. Singapore, as ASEAN
Chair, would have to check with senior levels in each member
state before ASEAN had an official position.
3. (C) COMMENT: We appreciate Virasakdi's efforts to give
us some insight into the mindset of ASEAN country officials
at this time, and recognize that we have to take into account
the ASEAN's unhappiness over our insistance that they have to
do more. Nevertheless, we will encourage our interlocutors to
respond to our reasonable points in a reasoned fashion.
BOYCE