Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07VIENTIANE602
2007-07-27 09:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vientiane
Cable title:
PRESSING THE LAO FOR UNIVERSAL ADOPTION OF THE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHVN #0602 2080935 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 270935Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1423 INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0119 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0173 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0005
UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000602
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC);
DEPT FOR ISN;
DEPT FOR L;
DEPT FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP LA MCAP PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE LAO FOR UNIVERSAL ADOPTION OF THE
NATIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTION
REF: SECSTATE 102149
UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000602
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC);
DEPT FOR ISN;
DEPT FOR L;
DEPT FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP LA MCAP PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE LAO FOR UNIVERSAL ADOPTION OF THE
NATIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTION
REF: SECSTATE 102149
1. (SBU) Charge and A/DCM met with Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith,
Acting Director General, Department of International
Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),to deliver
referenced demarche on July 25, 2007. Saleumxay said the
issue of nuclear terrorism is new for the Government of Laos
(GOL),and Laos has no industrial base for nuclear products.
Still the GOL attaches importance to nuclear
non-proliferation, an important issue in today's world as
attested to by President Bush's recent global initiative on
nucler non-proliferation. Saleumxay noted he had attended a
seminar in Australia in May on this global initiative and
remembered the presentation by a State Department official on
the initiative which helped explain how it would work.
2. (SBU) According to Saleumxay, the GOL has not yet signed
on to the Convention, but MFA's Department of Treaties and
Legal Affairs is reviewing it. Currently they are studying
how their national legislation corresponds to the Convention,
wanting to ensure their national legislation is in conformity
or wanting to be prepared to bring it into conformity before
signing the Convention. Saleumxay noted it is very difficult
for GOL officials to understand many of the technical issues
involved, but he affirmed that, in principle, the GOL
supports nuclear non-proliferaiton. This is a very specific
Convention, and the GOL needs to carefully study how to be a
responsible party.
3. (SBU) Saleumxay said that this is the thirteenth
terrorism-related convention that the GOL has considered.
Laos is already party to five, and seven others have been put
forward to the National Assembly (NA) for approval.
Saleumxay noted the NA's relatively limited capacity to deal
with the many issues awaiting consideration because of its
relatively small staff. He added that he has been summoned
to the NA several times to meet with the NA Legal Committee
to explain various issues awaiting NA approval including the
GOL's accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
According to Saleumxay, "once they understand the issue, they
agree." He opined the NA would be ready to deal with the
seven conventions in the near future, and he told the Charge
and A/DCM that the Foreign Minister has asked Treaty and
Legal Affairs to follow up with the NA on them.
HUSO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC);
DEPT FOR ISN;
DEPT FOR L;
DEPT FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP LA MCAP PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER
SUBJECT: PRESSING THE LAO FOR UNIVERSAL ADOPTION OF THE
NATIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTION
REF: SECSTATE 102149
1. (SBU) Charge and A/DCM met with Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith,
Acting Director General, Department of International
Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),to deliver
referenced demarche on July 25, 2007. Saleumxay said the
issue of nuclear terrorism is new for the Government of Laos
(GOL),and Laos has no industrial base for nuclear products.
Still the GOL attaches importance to nuclear
non-proliferation, an important issue in today's world as
attested to by President Bush's recent global initiative on
nucler non-proliferation. Saleumxay noted he had attended a
seminar in Australia in May on this global initiative and
remembered the presentation by a State Department official on
the initiative which helped explain how it would work.
2. (SBU) According to Saleumxay, the GOL has not yet signed
on to the Convention, but MFA's Department of Treaties and
Legal Affairs is reviewing it. Currently they are studying
how their national legislation corresponds to the Convention,
wanting to ensure their national legislation is in conformity
or wanting to be prepared to bring it into conformity before
signing the Convention. Saleumxay noted it is very difficult
for GOL officials to understand many of the technical issues
involved, but he affirmed that, in principle, the GOL
supports nuclear non-proliferaiton. This is a very specific
Convention, and the GOL needs to carefully study how to be a
responsible party.
3. (SBU) Saleumxay said that this is the thirteenth
terrorism-related convention that the GOL has considered.
Laos is already party to five, and seven others have been put
forward to the National Assembly (NA) for approval.
Saleumxay noted the NA's relatively limited capacity to deal
with the many issues awaiting consideration because of its
relatively small staff. He added that he has been summoned
to the NA several times to meet with the NA Legal Committee
to explain various issues awaiting NA approval including the
GOL's accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
According to Saleumxay, "once they understand the issue, they
agree." He opined the NA would be ready to deal with the
seven conventions in the near future, and he told the Charge
and A/DCM that the Foreign Minister has asked Treaty and
Legal Affairs to follow up with the NA on them.
HUSO