PACOM ADMIRAL KEATING'S VISIT TO VIENTIANE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 VIENTIANE 000914 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS (BESTIC) DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA (HUTCHENS) DEPARTMENT FOR G/AIAG DEFENSE FOR ODS-POLICY (STERN, SHUBERT) PACOM FOR J-52 (LACY) PACOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KHDP LA MARR MASS OVIP PREL KFLU CH SUBJECT: PACOM ADMIRAL KEATING'S VISIT TO VIENTIANE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During a December 14 visit to Vientiane, Commander of the Pacific Command Admiral Timothy Keating met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and National Assembly. At the Foreign Affairs Institute, he addressed students and took questions from the press. Admiral Keating and his Lao interlocutors took note of the improving relationship between the U.S. and Laos, particularly on military matters, and highlighted the importance of continued cooperation on issues of common concern including POW/MIA accounting, clearance of unexploded ordnance, and combating avian influenza. Both the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Vice Minister of Defense reaffirmed to Admiral Keating the GOL's intent to exchange defense attaches in 2008. The visit was highly successful, serving to highlight and move forward our improving military-to-military ties. End summary. Vice Foreign Minister -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Vice Foreign Minister Phongsavath Boupha began his meeting with Admiral Keating by pointing out that the United States and Laos are cooperating on many issues, including accounting for those missing from the Indochina War years, narcotics control, and unexploded ordnance. He said that military relations would be enhanced by the decision to exchange defense attaches. Admiral Keating expressed appreciation for the support given by the Government of Laos (GOL) to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) activities. He noted an increasing sense of urgency as remains degrade over time. VFM Phongsavath noted the last JPAC field excavations had found remains (which have been sent back to Hawaii for analysis). He expressed regret that the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense were traveling and therefore unable to meet with Admiral Keating. ¶3. (SBU) Admiral Keating complimented the GOL for skillfully addressing the challenge of avian influenza (AI) and welcomed the GOL's willingness to share information. It is critically important, he pointed out, to monitor even isolated outbreaks so the World Health Organization can track AI developments. VFM Phongsavath agreed, saying cooperation with the United States and the international community had been very important as the GOL undertook measures to control this year's major outbreak in Vientiane. Admiral Keating affirmed that PACOM is willing to assist any country in the region. The Ambassador said that PACOM experts had worked with the Lao National Avian and Human Influenza Coordinating Office (NAHICO) in August on a training program for more than 130 Lao officials (half civilian and half military) which helped integrate the military into the GOL's strategic plan for AI preparations. The Ambassador pointed out that, in many countries, the military has the logistical and organizational capabilities which would be critical in dealing with an AI pandemic. VFM Phongsavath thanked the United States for donations of personal protective equipment (PPEs). ¶4. (SBU) Regarding the severe problems Laos faces from unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the Indochina War years, VFM Phongsavath said that, despite contributions by the U.S. and other donors, there are not enough resources to solve the problem. The Ambassador mentioned that the two sides, in Bilateral Defense Talks in October, had examined the possibility of U.S. military training for the Lao military for UXO removal. VFM Phongsavath said that Lao UXO specialists are capable of undertaking UXO removal successfully with appropriate training, but new equipment is needed. Admiral Keating responded that PACOM would consider ways to assist with UXO removal. ¶5. (U) GOL officials accompanying VFM Phongsavath to the meeting, which took place at the Lao Plaza Hotel, were Ministry of National Defense (MND) Permanent Secretary Brigadier General Sisophonh Bangonesengdet; MFA Department of Europe and Americas Affairs Director General Southam Sakonhninhom; MND Department of External Relations Director General Colonel Siphay Meundouang; and MFA Americas Division Director Thieng Boupha. VIENTIANE 00000914 002 OF 004 Vice Minister of Defense -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Admiral Keating met with Vice Minister of Defense Major General Somphet Thipmala at the Ministry of National Defense. The Vice Minister was accompanied by several senior military officials, including Brigadier General Sisophonh Bangonesengdet. General Somphet assumed his current position in July; he was previously governor of Vientiane province. Admiral Keating thanked General Somphet for the GOL's support for U.S. POW/MIA accounting efforts. He highlighted the importance of joint USG-GOL efforts in combating avian influenza, noting that, in the event of a pandemic, combating the disease will be a multi-national, multi-agency effort. He noted that PACOM has established an avian influenza task force. ¶7. (SBU) General Somphet pledged that the GOL would continue its support for POW/MIA accounting efforts. He noted that the GOL has a task force dedicated to combating avian influenza, overseen by the Prime Minister. The GOL, he said, would be happy to accept any assistance the USG offers in this area. He expressed particular appreciation for the provision of protective gear. General Somphet thanked Admiral Keating for PACOM's offer of assistance on English language teaching for members of the military. He said that the GOL hopes to set up a defense attache's office at its embassy in the U.S. in 2008. Admiral Keating said that he fully supports this initiative and the Defense Department is now looking for the best-qualified officer to staff the U.S. position. ¶8. (SBU) Admiral Keating said that he was happy to have a chance to see General Sisophonh again after meeting him at PACOM's Chiefs of Defense conference. At the conference, all of the participants expressed their countries' commitment to achieving peace and security in the Pacific region. It was good to see this unity of goals and good to have General Sisophonh as a participant, Admiral Keating said. National Assembly Vice President -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Admiral Keating opened the conversation with National Assembly Vice President Dr. Saisomphone Phomvihane at the National Assembly by expressing his gratitude for Laos' cooperation in support of a full accounting for our missing service members. Admiral Keating stated that he had come to Laos to solidify and improve mutual trust and friendship between the U.S. and Lao militaries. ¶10. (SBU) Dr. Saisomphone, who is also the Chair of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee, responded that over past years, cooperation on POW/MIA accounting had been outstanding, and that he would seek to continue support for this commitment. He said that cooperation on avian influenza (AI) had also been very good, and thanked the Admiral for U.S.-provided training in this area. Dr. Saisomphone offered four proposals to enhance U.S.-Lao relations: 1) U.S. policy should support Lao access to the U.S. Export-Import (EXIM) Bank and increased U.S. investment in Laos; 2) In line with the first point, the U.S. should encourage investors and business leaders to travel to Laos and see the opportunities available themselves; 3) The U.S. should continue its support for the POW/MIA mission, as the two governments had already agreed; and 4) The U.S. should increase its assistance on AI in terms of both funding and training. ¶11. (SBU) Addressing the last point first, Admiral Keating stated that he agreed wholeheartedly that interagency, multiple country collaboration is important in resisting the spread of AI worldwide. He noted that Laos had received high marks from a number of international bodies, including the VIENTIANE 00000914 003 OF 004 World Health Organization, for its openness on this issue. He expressed his appreciation for Laos' support on POW/MIA issues. ¶12. (SBU) The Ambassador said that, with regard to the investment climate in Laos, there are many potential opportunities for U.S. investment; the two governments will have to work together both to explain these opportunities and implement existing agreements. He observed that recent improvements in Laos' economic infrastructure and transportation network could lead to more rapid development. With regard to the EXIM bank, the Ambassador said that he hoped to be hearing news soon. ¶13. (SBU) Admiral Keating asked about Dr. Saisomphone's views of China as a military and economic power in the region. Dr. Saisomphone said that China's policy in the region is clear, its intentions good, and its relations friendly with Laos and other Southeast Asian countries. He noted the importance for Laos of trade with China and Laos' continuing cooperation with China in the energy sector. Dr. Saisomphone said that Laos has good relations with other nations in the region, which he expects will continue. The Admiral said that the U.S. would like to build on these relations. Public Remarks at the Institute of Foreign Affairs -------------- -------------- ¶14. (U) Admiral Keating spoke to an audience of approximately 50 at the Institute of Foreign Affairs on the importance of regional cooperation to create security and stability in the Asia Pacific area. In addition to students from the National University,s International Relations Department, the audience included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, National Institute of Social Sciences, and other line ministries. Admiral Keating said that all 25 regional military representatives at PACOM's recent Chiefs of Defense conference had agreed about the importance of peace and security in the region. Noting that he oversees a region that includes 51 percent of the globe, he said that his primary responsibility is to protect the U.S. The best way to do this is by not getting into a fight. Admiral Keating said that even countries without a coastline are dependent on maritime security, since their imports and exports travel by sea. In response to questions from the audience, Admiral Keating clarified the role of PACOM in protecting shipping in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, defined the role of the U.S. military in preserving peace and stability through military readiness and working with partners and allies, noted the importance of halting terrorist activity throughout the region, and described the use of military capabilities to respond to natural disasters when assistance is requested. ¶15. (U) After the presentation, the Admiral gave a short interview to journalists from Lao National Radio, Lao National Television, and the English language newspaper Vientiane Times. Lao Radio asked Admiral Keating what role Laos should play in the region. He said that he expects Laos will continue to change and develop rapidly, and that regional cooperation will continue. He looks forward to improving ties with Laos to promote regional stability and security, and said he was pleased to welcome Lao Brigadier General Sisophonh Bangonesengdet to the Chiefs of Defense conference in Hawaii in October. Citing ship visits to Cambodia and the assistance provided to Bangladesh in the wake of the most recent cyclone, Lao Radio asked if the U.S. has any plans for humanitarian programs in Laos. Admiral Keating said he hopes to schedule a humanitarian project in the future. Lao Radio asked if PACOM planned to help Lao officials develop their foreign language capabilities. The Admiral said that he would promote efforts to have Lao officials learn English while U.S. officials learned Lao. Asked by the Vientiane Times about the status of Lao-U.S. relations, Admiral summed it up by saying &They,re good, and getting better.8 VIENTIANE 00000914 004 OF 004 Comment -------------- ¶16. (SBU) Admiral Keating's visit was highly successful, serving as the most visible expression to date of the improvement in military-to-military relations between the U.S. and Laos over the past year. Admiral Keating's Lao interlocutors, particularly the Vice Minister of Defense, appeared pleased by the opportunity to receive such a senior U.S. military official. Both sides reinforced their commitment to cooperating in key areas of mutual concern including POW/MIA accounting, removal of unexploded ordnance, and combating avian influenza. The high-level expression of common commitment to the exchange of defense attaches suggests the Lao are prepared to follow through and will sustain momentum as the issue moves through the Lao bureaucracy. ¶17. (U) Admiral Keating has approved this message. McGeehan