PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY INVITATION - CAMBODIA

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000256 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, ISN/CPI - J. PURCELL, C. GUZMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP KSTC PARM PREL CB SUBJECT: PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY INVITATION - CAMBODIA REF: A. STATE 23570 ¶B. 07 PHNOM PENH 1444 ¶C. 07 PHNOM PENH 665 ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Ec Chief delivered Ref A invitation to MFA IO Director Tuy Ry March 12 at the request of MFA Secretary of State Ouch Borith to whom the invitation letter was addressed. Ouch Borith has been a regular interlocutor on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and post expects him to give the invitation serious consideration. Ry, who just assumed his position last month, professed he had not been familiar with the PSI. He inquired about sending a small delegation from the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and asked if funding was being made available to support their travel or accommodation. ¶2. (SBU) When asked about Cambodia's ongoing review of a proposed PSI ship-boarding agreement (Refs B, C),Ry noted a step forward had been taken since January: the Ministry of Defense (MOD) recently sent written comments on the draft ship-boarding agreement to the MFA. (NOTE: In the past, MFA interlocutors said only that the matter was under review in the MOD and had been favorably received by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. END NOTE.) Ry noted that the Cambodian MOD's written remarks indicated MOD ambiguity about the agreement. Earlier, the MFA told us of concerns about the notification period and the burdensome requirements this placed on interagency coordination. Ry also asked if any other ASEAN nations had signed a ship-boarding agreement, and to what extent other ASEANs participated in the PSI. Ry took on board the suggestion that now might be the time to give comments, present questions, or seek clarifications on the proposed ship-boarding agreement. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Judging from Ry's reaction, Cambodia is eager to be part of the PSI, and to be seen as being part of this international coalition in support of nonproliferation. Given the MFA's limited budget in a country still among the most impoverished, it might be useful to provide funding for two RGC officials (likely from the MFA and MOD) for travel and accommodation to the PSI anniversary celebration. Post would be pleased to pass to the RGC any additional information about the ship-boarding agreement. If indeed we can say that Singapore or other ASEANs have signed shipbording agreements, we recommend proposing more formal discussions in advance of the PSI anniversary. The deadline of a meeting in Washington in which Cambodia is seen as an active participant with the international community may be a strong inducement to come to closure on this proposal. MUSSOMELI