Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK3579
2008-12-08 06:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

Tags:  ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN CB 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0507
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #3579/01 3430606
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080606Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5316
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHDC
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003579 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS
DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW, AWEST
CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY
AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR JBOCKLAGE
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR PZARESK
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH FOR MSWEENEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN CB
SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING
CABLE - NOVEMBER 2008

SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003579

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS
DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW, AWEST
CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY
AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR JBOCKLAGE
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR PZARESK
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH FOR MSWEENEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN CB
SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING
CABLE - NOVEMBER 2008

SUMMARY


1. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted an
Interagency Relations and Infrastructure Workshop in Bangkok,
Nov. 3-5. ECC Desk Officer Rachel Owen met with Vietnamese
officials, Nov. 3-4. Advisor, Vietnam Program Assistant and
Thai and Vietnamese officials attended the Export Control
Academy in Athens, GA, Nov. 10-14. Rapiscan x-ray system
installation and operator training in Vietnam began November
27 and is scheduled to be complete in early December. A
purchase order has been signed for delivery of an electrical
generator for the Rapiscan van in Hue. CTP will conduct a
National Control List Workshop in Hanoi, Dec. 10-12.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok was temporarily
closed during political demonstrations. Advisor will be in
the U.S. for leave and consultations, Dec. 22 - Jan. 10.

SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS


2. (U) ECC Desk Officer Rachel Owen met with Vietnamese
officials in Hanoi on November 3-5. (Advisor was involved in
training in Bangkok and could not attend - Ms. Owen was
accompanied by EXBS Program Assistant.) Meetings were held
with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, Customs,
Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency, and Ministry of Defense.
Topics discussed included updates on Tracker, border
security, Rapiscan equipment and national control lists.
Detailed discussions reported separately.

TRAINING CONDUCTED


3. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted an
Interagency Relations and Infrastructure Workshop in Bangkok,
Nov. 3-5. Thirty-one participants and observers from twelve
Thai government and industry organizations attended. At the
end of the course, the Thai government's Export Control
Working Group held a 2-hour meeting to discuss progress
toward a stronger strategic trade management system. Legal,
personnel, budgetary and other issues were discussed.
Industry representatives also attended, arguing for a
user-friendly system, and for the private sector being kept
fully informed of any new requirements. Continued technical
support via the EXBS program and encouragement at the
political level via international organizations such as the
UN, ARF and APEC will be necessary to keep this complex
process moving forward.


4. (U) Advisor and Vietnam EXBS Program Assistant accompanied
Thai and Vietnamese officials (three from each country) to
the Export Control Academy in Athens, GA, Nov. 10-14. Two
Thai officials remained for the second week of the course.
This was the first delegation of Vietnamese officials to
attend the Academy. Approximately 30 officials from twelve
foreign countries attended the training. Participants
learned a great deal about international nonproliferation
efforts, and benefited from the interaction with their
international counterparts.

EQUIPMENT DELIVERED


5. (U) On-site installation and operator training for the
Rapiscan x-ray system in Ho Chi Minh City was conducted on
November 27-28. Training for the systems in Hue and Hanoi
are scheduled for early December. A purchase order was
signed for the procurement, delivery and installation of the
electrical generator for the Rapiscan van in Hue.

IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE


6. (U) CTP will conduct a National Control List Workshop in
Hanoi, Dec. 10-12. The assessment visit for the proposed
Vietnam Tracker system network expansion was postponed from
December until March for administrative reasons. The meeting
of the Council on Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific

BANGKOK 00003579 002 OF 002


(CSCAP) WMD Study Group, scheduled for Dec. 2-4 in Bangkok,
was cancelled due to airport closure from political
demonstrations. Advisor will be in the U.S. for annual leave
and consultations, Dec. 22 - Jan. 10.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS


7. (U) Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was
closed by political demonstrators on November 25. The
airport has since reopened, and the demonstrators have
disbanded (see post reporting).
JOHN