EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003068 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR JBOCKLAGE AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR PZARESK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - SEPTEMBER 2008 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Advisor conducted meetings with embassy and Vietnamese officials in Hanoi, Sept. 22-23. Advisor met with Royal Thai Customs officials on Sept. 25. New EXBS Program Assistant in Vietnam started work on Sept. 3. Upcoming events include an Enterprise Outreach Seminar and a regional UN 1540 Workshop in Bangkok, and Thai and Vietnamese delegations to the Ninth International Export Controls Conference in Croatia and the Export Control Academy in Athens, GA. Advisor was in U.S. for semi-annual consultations and annual leave, Aug. 31 - Sept. 13. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Advisor travelled to Hanoi Sept. 22-23 to conduct introductory calls with new EXBS Program Assistant on Vietnamese government interlocutors. Meetings were held with Customs, VARANS (Vietnamese Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety),Ministry of Industry and Trade, Border Army and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on imminent and proposed training events, Tracker Licensing System expansion, and equipment monitoring. All officials were very supportive of offered assistance. Details were provided separately by e-mail. Advisor also briefed Embassy Hanoi's new DCM on the EXBS program. ¶3. (U) Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant met with Royal Thai Customs International Cooperation Division on Sept. 25. Advisor updated officials on proposed training activities. Officials were supportive of proposals, and requested to meet again to discuss tentative dates after further review. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶4. (U) None. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) Installation and testing of Tracker system accessories delivered to VARANS were completed on Sept. 18. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶6. (U) DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration will assist the Thai Ministry of Commerce in conducting an Industry Outreach Seminar on Strategic Trade Management on Oct. 22 (90 firms have confirmed attendance thus far). The UN Office of Disarmament Affairs will conduct a regional UNSCR 1540 Implementation Workshop in Bangkok, Oct. 27-31. EXBS Office is assisting in coordination of a detection equipment demonstration and port tour at Laem Chabang (including the Megaports facility). Thai and Vietnamese officials will be sent to the Ninth International Export Control Conference in Croatia, Oct. 20-22, and the Export Control Academy at the University of Georgia, Nov. 10-14. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) Vietnam EXBS Program Assistant started work on Sept. 3. JOHN