SOMALIA AND PIRACY: REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000780 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP - JOE FITZGERALD, L/OES - ASH ROACH, AF/RSA - JUN BANDO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PBTS PREL UN UNSC IMO SO TH SUBJECT: SOMALIA AND PIRACY: REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REF: SECSTATE 18101 ¶1. (SBU) Please see paragraph two for questions from Thai MFA Africa Director Tomwit Jarnson regarding reftel request. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff on March 11 conveyed reftel points eliciting Thai assistance in addressing piracy off the Somali coast and views on a United Nations Security Council resolution to MFA Africa Division Director Tomwit Jarnson. Tomwit expressed interest in the idea of a Security Council resolution, particularly because Thai vessels and citizens have been victimized by pirates in this vicinity. Tomwit said he needed to coordinate any response internally, and said some further information would be helpful: Have consultations with the TFG begun? If so, what stage are they in? What is the intended scope of the resolution? Would a resolution apply to Somali waters only, or be intended to address piracy generally? Finally, how would the resolution affect the territorial waters of the surrounding states. Tomwit was not prepared to provide the Thai government's views on these questions prior to internal consultations. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding direct assistance, Tomwit said Thailand's presence and interests in Africa were extremely limited. Although he supports the multinational effort to patrol the waters off the Somali coast, any kind of direct assistance on the part of Thailand would be extremely difficult. Tomwit said this too would require internal consultations. -------------- Point of Contact -------------- ¶3. Please email response to paragraph 2 questions to mullanr@state.sgov.gov. JOHN