Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2343
2008-08-01 10:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR AND THAI FM TEJ DISCUSS POTUS VISIT,
how-toVZCZCXRO1123 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #2343/01 2141025 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011025Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3895 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8928 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0949 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6216 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4805 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5517 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5364 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002343
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PREF PARM KJUS UNSC UNGA ASEAN
TH, CB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND THAI FM TEJ DISCUSS POTUS VISIT,
PREAH VIHEAR, PSI, LAO HMONG, AND OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. BANGKOK 2294 (MFA ON TEMPLE TALKS)
B. BANGKOK 2276 (TEJ APPOINTED)
C. STATE 79734 (PROTECTING LAO HMONG)
D. STATE 72078 (63RD UNGA)
BANGKOK 00002343 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002343
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PREF PARM KJUS UNSC UNGA ASEAN
TH, CB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND THAI FM TEJ DISCUSS POTUS VISIT,
PREAH VIHEAR, PSI, LAO HMONG, AND OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. BANGKOK 2294 (MFA ON TEMPLE TALKS)
B. BANGKOK 2276 (TEJ APPOINTED)
C. STATE 79734 (PROTECTING LAO HMONG)
D. STATE 72078 (63RD UNGA)
BANGKOK 00002343 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador and newly-appointed Foreign Minister
Tej Bunnag agreed in a July 31 courtesy call that all
arrangements were proceeding smoothly for the upcoming visit
to Thailand of President Bush. Tej expressed appreciation
for USG assistance in preventing the UN Security Council from
formally considering Thai-Cambodian tension over the Preah
Vihear temple. He said the RTG hoped to ensure quick Thai
ratification of the ASEAN Charter. Tej took on board points
the Ambassador made on Lao Hmong, PSI, and the Viktor Bout
extradition case. Tej confirmed he and Prime Minister Samak
would travel to New York for the upcoming UNGA. End Summary.
POTUS VISIT
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador on July 31 paid a courtesy call on
newly-appointed Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag. The Ambassador
and Tej agreed that arrangements for the upcoming visit of
President Bush were proceeding smoothly. The Ambassador
expressed regret that it had proven logistically impossible
to arrange an audience with King Bhumibol during the upcoming
visit.
PREAH VIHEAR
--------------
3. (C) Tej explained how, on hearing of his impending
appointment as Foreign Minister, he rushed home from overseas
and hurried to prepare for talks with his Cambodian
counterpart on the situation in the vicinity of the Preah
Vihear temple. He thanked the Ambassador for USG assistance
in preventing this situation from coming formally before the
UN Security Council.
ASEAN
--------------
4. (C) The Ambassador asked Tej's plans for Thailand's term
as ASEAN Chair. Tej said the government would seek
Thailand's parliamentary ratification of the ASEAN Charter as
soon as possible. He did not indicate he was aware of any
specific objections legislators might have to the Charter,
but he quipped that "everything is a political problem now."
He looked forward to the Charter coming into force, noting
that this would help to put ASEAN "firmly on the world map."
He predicted ASEAN would move toward integration in a fashion
similar to Europe's. The Ambassador stressed USG support for
ASEAN, highlighting for Tej the recent appointment of EAP DAS
Marciel as Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.
PSI
---
5. (C) The Ambassador raised the Proliferation Security
Initiative, urging that the Thais participate as soon as
their political situation might allow. Tej acknowledged the
Ambassador with a nod but offered no verbal reply.
BOUT EXTRADITION
--------------
6. (C) The Ambassador thanked Tej for the RTG's assistance in
the arrest of Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout,
emphasizing that this case remained important at the highest
levels of the U.S. Government. The Ambassador explained that
the Embassy was tracking the case as it moved through
BANGKOK 00002343 002.2 OF 002
Thailand's courts. Tej acknowledged the USG's interest.
LAO HMONG
--------------
7. (C) Conveying ref C's points, the Ambassador emphasized
USG concern over the disposition of Lao Hmong in Thailand and
the need for a transparent screening process that meets
international standards. The Ambassador explained that the
USG would work with the Thais on resettlement abroad of Lao
Hmong who merit refugee status. Tej said the USG and RTG had
worked together on refugee matters for more than three
decades, and the USG would receive good cooperation from all
concerned RTG agencies.
UNGA PLANS
--------------
8. (U) Tej confirmed that he, Prime Minister Samak, and
advisor Manaspas Xuto would travel to New York for the
upcoming UNGA. Samak would arrive in the U.S. following a
visit to Europe. Tej indicated the MFA had not yet been able
to finalize its UNGA preparations. (Post will continue to
seek information on the Thai UNGA delegation, per ref D
instructions.)
COMMENT
--------------
9. (C) An experienced diplomat, Tej appears to be well suited
for the role of Foreign Minister and someone with whom we can
work easily. He related to the Ambassador that his parents
had first met in Washington, D.C., and he said that,
consequently, he considered himself "very attached
sentimentally" to the United States, and particularly to
Washington.
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PREF PARM KJUS UNSC UNGA ASEAN
TH, CB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND THAI FM TEJ DISCUSS POTUS VISIT,
PREAH VIHEAR, PSI, LAO HMONG, AND OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. BANGKOK 2294 (MFA ON TEMPLE TALKS)
B. BANGKOK 2276 (TEJ APPOINTED)
C. STATE 79734 (PROTECTING LAO HMONG)
D. STATE 72078 (63RD UNGA)
BANGKOK 00002343 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador and newly-appointed Foreign Minister
Tej Bunnag agreed in a July 31 courtesy call that all
arrangements were proceeding smoothly for the upcoming visit
to Thailand of President Bush. Tej expressed appreciation
for USG assistance in preventing the UN Security Council from
formally considering Thai-Cambodian tension over the Preah
Vihear temple. He said the RTG hoped to ensure quick Thai
ratification of the ASEAN Charter. Tej took on board points
the Ambassador made on Lao Hmong, PSI, and the Viktor Bout
extradition case. Tej confirmed he and Prime Minister Samak
would travel to New York for the upcoming UNGA. End Summary.
POTUS VISIT
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador on July 31 paid a courtesy call on
newly-appointed Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag. The Ambassador
and Tej agreed that arrangements for the upcoming visit of
President Bush were proceeding smoothly. The Ambassador
expressed regret that it had proven logistically impossible
to arrange an audience with King Bhumibol during the upcoming
visit.
PREAH VIHEAR
--------------
3. (C) Tej explained how, on hearing of his impending
appointment as Foreign Minister, he rushed home from overseas
and hurried to prepare for talks with his Cambodian
counterpart on the situation in the vicinity of the Preah
Vihear temple. He thanked the Ambassador for USG assistance
in preventing this situation from coming formally before the
UN Security Council.
ASEAN
--------------
4. (C) The Ambassador asked Tej's plans for Thailand's term
as ASEAN Chair. Tej said the government would seek
Thailand's parliamentary ratification of the ASEAN Charter as
soon as possible. He did not indicate he was aware of any
specific objections legislators might have to the Charter,
but he quipped that "everything is a political problem now."
He looked forward to the Charter coming into force, noting
that this would help to put ASEAN "firmly on the world map."
He predicted ASEAN would move toward integration in a fashion
similar to Europe's. The Ambassador stressed USG support for
ASEAN, highlighting for Tej the recent appointment of EAP DAS
Marciel as Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.
PSI
---
5. (C) The Ambassador raised the Proliferation Security
Initiative, urging that the Thais participate as soon as
their political situation might allow. Tej acknowledged the
Ambassador with a nod but offered no verbal reply.
BOUT EXTRADITION
--------------
6. (C) The Ambassador thanked Tej for the RTG's assistance in
the arrest of Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout,
emphasizing that this case remained important at the highest
levels of the U.S. Government. The Ambassador explained that
the Embassy was tracking the case as it moved through
BANGKOK 00002343 002.2 OF 002
Thailand's courts. Tej acknowledged the USG's interest.
LAO HMONG
--------------
7. (C) Conveying ref C's points, the Ambassador emphasized
USG concern over the disposition of Lao Hmong in Thailand and
the need for a transparent screening process that meets
international standards. The Ambassador explained that the
USG would work with the Thais on resettlement abroad of Lao
Hmong who merit refugee status. Tej said the USG and RTG had
worked together on refugee matters for more than three
decades, and the USG would receive good cooperation from all
concerned RTG agencies.
UNGA PLANS
--------------
8. (U) Tej confirmed that he, Prime Minister Samak, and
advisor Manaspas Xuto would travel to New York for the
upcoming UNGA. Samak would arrive in the U.S. following a
visit to Europe. Tej indicated the MFA had not yet been able
to finalize its UNGA preparations. (Post will continue to
seek information on the Thai UNGA delegation, per ref D
instructions.)
COMMENT
--------------
9. (C) An experienced diplomat, Tej appears to be well suited
for the role of Foreign Minister and someone with whom we can
work easily. He related to the Ambassador that his parents
had first met in Washington, D.C., and he said that,
consequently, he considered himself "very attached
sentimentally" to the United States, and particularly to
Washington.
JOHN