RTG REQUESTS WRITTEN STATEMENT OF RECIPROCAL SUPPORT AT IMO

UNCLAS BANGKOK 005834 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T: LLUFTIG INFO LONDON FOR EST - J. WHITTLESEY USCG FOR CG-52 AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ICAO IMO EAIR EWWT PHSA PREL TH SUBJECT: RTG REQUESTS WRITTEN STATEMENT OF RECIPROCAL SUPPORT AT IMO COUNCIL REF A: BANGKOK 4606 REF B: BANGKOK 5705 ¶1. This is an action request (see paragraph 9). ¶2. (SBU) On August 27, econoff presented a demarche to Mr. Chalor Kotcharat, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, seeking Thai support for U.S. ICAO Council candidacy. Chalor expressed support for the U.S. candidacy but also asked that the U.S. support Thailand's IMO Council category "C" candidacy (ref. A). Econoff explained to Chalor that U.S. policy for multilateral organizations is not to reveal U.S. support for candidates in advance, or to enter into agreements for reciprocal support but promised to relay the request to Washington. ¶3. (SBU) On October 29, econoff presented a demarche to Ms. Parichat Kotcharat, Director of the International Affairs Division of the Ministry of Transport, requesting RTG support for U.S. IMO Council category "A" candidacy (ref. B). Parichart verbally expressed RTG support for the U.S. candidacy. She later sent a letter to econoff, expressing support for the U.S. candidacy but also requesting U.S. support for the Thai candidacy. ¶4. (SBU) Post then received the following diplomatic note dated November 14, 2007 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶5. BEGIN TEXT OF DIPNOTE. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America, and has the honour to refer to the meeting between Mr. Jeremy Beck, Second Secretary and Vice Consul of the Embassy, and Mr. Chalor Khotcharat, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, on Monday 27 August 2007, during which the U.S. Government sought Thailand's support for the U.S. candidature for the re-election to the Council of the International Civil Organization (ICAO),Part I at the 36th session of the ICAO Assembly held in Montreal during 18-28 September 2007. ¶6. The Ministry has further the honour to inform the Embassy the Royal Thai Government lent its support for the U.S. candidature at the 36th session of the ICAO Assembly, on the understanding that the United States would support Thailand's candidature for the re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C at the 25th session of the IMO Assembly to be held in London during 19-30 November 2007. An Aide-Memoire outlining Thailand's vision and contribution to the work of the IMO is enclosed herewith. ¶7. In this connection, Thailand would highly appreciate a written confirmation of the reciprocal support of the U.S. Government for Thailand's candidature for the re-election to the IMO Council, Category C at the 25th session of the IMO Assembly. ¶8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. END TEXT OF DIPNOTE. ¶9. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests guidance on how to respond to this request from the RTG. Boyce