EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000044 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, KCROUCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW CBP/INA FOR RWATT DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR PECKSTROM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR RMOODY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - DECEMBER 2007 REF: BANGKOK 06236 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) EXBS Advisor met with Vietnamese border security officials in Ho Chi Minh City and port, at Moc Bai border crossing, and at Border Guards Headquarters in Hanoi. Officials were uniformly supportive of U.S. assistance. Australia, Japan, and the European Union are also providing trade control and border assistance, but the need is great and additional U.S. assistance would be useful. Upcoming training includes International Seaport Interdiction Training and Investigation of Nonproliferation Export Control Incidents in Thailand, and Tracker system training in Vietnam. Additional assistance includes translation of the EU control lists into Thai. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) EXBS Advisor and local USG officials met with Vietnamese border security officials in Ho Chi Minh City and port, at Moc Bai border crossing with Cambodia, and at Border Guards headquarters in Hanoi, December 3-6, 2007. Vietnamese officials were uniformly anxious for cooperation and assistance. Vietnam faces a wide array of transnational threats, exacerbated by the country's burgeoning economic development and location along key trade routes. Australian, Japanese and European agencies are currently providing different types of assistance, but Vietnam's rapidly expanding economy and need to modernize allows for additional targeted efforts. The EXBS program can provide strategic trade control related training, such as seaport and land border interdiction training, and basic inspection equipment, and play a valuable role in complementing other international efforts. Additional details reported REFTEL. ¶3. (U) EXBS Advisor and ICE Attache met with the Director of Royal Thai Customs Investigation Bureau on Dec. 19 to discuss upcoming Nonproliferation Export Control Incident Investigation training. The Director agreed to the proposed training, and tentatively approved for it to be conducted the week of March 10, 2008. The Director and his staff were also provided with a draft agenda for their review, and agreed to get back with any recommended changes. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶4. (U) As a follow-up to November's Legal-Regulatory Workshop in Bangkok, EXBS Advisor has arranged for the EU control lists to be translated into Thai. This was a measure requested by both Thai government and industry representatives. Expected completion date is early March. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) None. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶6. (U) U.S. Customs and Border Protection will conduct an International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT) course at Laem Chabang port, Thailand during January 7-11, 2008. CTP, Inc. will conduct a Tracker Planning Session and System Admin Training in Hanoi, Vietnam during January 14-18, 2008. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) None. JOHN