Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK1240
2008-04-23 11:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRAN - IMPLEMENTING THE TRAVEL

Tags:  MNUC KNNP IR UNSC TH 
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VZCZCXRO5593
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #1240 1141145
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 231145Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2754
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5310
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2010
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001240 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA RISA MONGIELLO AND RICHARD NEPHEW.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: MNUC KNNP IR UNSC TH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRAN - IMPLEMENTING THE TRAVEL
BAN AND TRAVEL VIGILANCE REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN UNSCRS
1737, 1747, AND 1803

REF: STATE 34974

Classified By: Political Officer Lisa Kaleczyc; reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001240

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA RISA MONGIELLO AND RICHARD NEPHEW.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: MNUC KNNP IR UNSC TH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: IRAN - IMPLEMENTING THE TRAVEL
BAN AND TRAVEL VIGILANCE REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN UNSCRS
1737, 1747, AND 1803

REF: STATE 34974

Classified By: Political Officer Lisa Kaleczyc; reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (C) Poloffs met with Middle East Division Counselor of the
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),Department of South
Asian, Middle East and African Affairs Dao Vibulpanich on 22
April 2008 to discuss the points outlined in reftel.
Vibulpanich advised that following passage of United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, such as the UNSC
resolution 1803 adopted in March 2008 concerning Iran, the
Thai MFA Department of International Organizations (IO)
assembled a meeting of relevant government agencies
(commerce, customs, intelligence, security, etc.) to convey
the new guidelines and requirements. Both the IO lead
meeting and subsequent reporting to the United Nations on
measures taken to address the resolutions were mandated by
the Thai government to occur within 60 days of passage of the
resolution. Vibulpanich advised that the new travel-related
provisions and list of names, including the five individuals
designated for a travel ban, had been discussed and
distributed to the relevant government organizations at the
IO meeting held.


2. (C) Vibulpanich advised that all Iranians must obtain a
visa prior to travel to Thailand and that the Thai MFA
provides all its embassies with a list of persons of concern
to consult prior to visa issuance. If a visa applicant is
listed as a person of concern, or if the visa officer has
other reason to suspect the intentions of the visa applicant,
the embassy submits the visa application to MFA for relay to
the Thai police and intelligence entities for a security
review of the applicant (if the embassy does not engage those
organizations directly).


3. (C) Noting the ambiguity of the resolutions' call for
"vigilance" and "restraint" regarding visa issuance for the
designated individuals, Vibulpanich advised that Thailand did
not automatically restrict the persons of concern from
entering Thailand. Regarding the list of the five
individuals designated for a travel ban under UNSCR 1803,
Vibulpanich commented that the UNSC should have provided
birth dates for the individuals identified to assist
countries in their efforts to comply with the travel ban.
Vibulpanich also noted the challenges Middle Eastern names
can present to vetting efforts given name and spelling
variations.


4. (C) Vibulpanich advised that the Middle East Department
had limited contact with and engagement of the Thai police
and intelligence entities responsible for screening the names
of persons of concern. Vibulpanich was unaware of the
specifics of the vetting process and the level of expertise
the security and intelligence entities had specific to Iran
(e.g. FARSI language ability to aid in screening). Regarding
the U.S. offer of assistance on questions related to
implementation of the travel-related provisions in UNSCRs
1737, 1747, and 1803, Vibulpanich agreed to consider and
discuss the offer with other Thai security and intelligence
entities as appropriate.


5. (U) Embassy Bangkok's point of contact on this issue is
Political Officer Lisa Kaleczyc.
JOHN