Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK3471
2008-11-25 11:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
UNGA MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTIONS: THAILAND TO CONTINUE
how-toVZCZCXRO9015 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHBK #3471 3301102 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251102Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5179 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6543 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9230 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 5381 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5084 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2521 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5896 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003471
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, DRL, IO; NSC FOR PHU;
IO/UNP FOR ANDREW MORRISON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TH
SUBJECT: UNGA MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTIONS: THAILAND TO CONTINUE
TO ABSTAIN ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 123081
B. BANGKOK 3366 (AMBASSADOR RAISES)
Classified By: Political Counselor George Kent, Reason 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003471
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, DRL, IO; NSC FOR PHU;
IO/UNP FOR ANDREW MORRISON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TH
SUBJECT: UNGA MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTIONS: THAILAND TO CONTINUE
TO ABSTAIN ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 123081
B. BANGKOK 3366 (AMBASSADOR RAISES)
Classified By: Political Counselor George Kent, Reason 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) We delivered ref A points on the misallocation of UNGA
time and resources to anti-Israel resolutions to Thai MFA
Deputy Director-General of International Organizations
Ittiporn Boonpracong on November 25. Ittiporn responded that
the RTG would maintain its past voting record of abstaining
on all country-specific UNGA human rights-related
resolutions. While the RTG position is reviewed yearly, no
recent events merited a change in policy, he said.
2. (C) Ittiporn indicated that in the wake of the
Ambassador's November 10 request to MFA Permanent Secretary
Virasakdi Futrakul (ref B) to vote against no-action motions
regarding Burma and Iran, Virasakdi had initiated an internal
discussion between IO and the RTG missions in Geneva and New
York. Ittiporn told us that the French and Australians had
also approached him about the Thai position favoring
no-action motions. The MFA had concluded after the review
that it would maintain its current voting posture. Ittiporn
claimed that a vote of no-motion did not necessarily mean "no
discussion" or "no-action"; diplomatic debate would occur
regardless. Echoing PermSec Virasakdi's arguments, Ittiporn
suggested there were more effective ways of addressing the
underlying concerns than the country resolutions.
JOHN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, DRL, IO; NSC FOR PHU;
IO/UNP FOR ANDREW MORRISON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL TH
SUBJECT: UNGA MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTIONS: THAILAND TO CONTINUE
TO ABSTAIN ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. SECSTATE 123081
B. BANGKOK 3366 (AMBASSADOR RAISES)
Classified By: Political Counselor George Kent, Reason 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) We delivered ref A points on the misallocation of UNGA
time and resources to anti-Israel resolutions to Thai MFA
Deputy Director-General of International Organizations
Ittiporn Boonpracong on November 25. Ittiporn responded that
the RTG would maintain its past voting record of abstaining
on all country-specific UNGA human rights-related
resolutions. While the RTG position is reviewed yearly, no
recent events merited a change in policy, he said.
2. (C) Ittiporn indicated that in the wake of the
Ambassador's November 10 request to MFA Permanent Secretary
Virasakdi Futrakul (ref B) to vote against no-action motions
regarding Burma and Iran, Virasakdi had initiated an internal
discussion between IO and the RTG missions in Geneva and New
York. Ittiporn told us that the French and Australians had
also approached him about the Thai position favoring
no-action motions. The MFA had concluded after the review
that it would maintain its current voting posture. Ittiporn
claimed that a vote of no-motion did not necessarily mean "no
discussion" or "no-action"; diplomatic debate would occur
regardless. Echoing PermSec Virasakdi's arguments, Ittiporn
suggested there were more effective ways of addressing the
underlying concerns than the country resolutions.
JOHN