Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL1820
2008-09-12 05:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK RECONSIDERING HOSTING APDP MEETING; REQUESTS
how-toVZCZCXRO1274 OO RUEHDT DE RUEHUL #1820 2560536 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 120536Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1618 INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 7506 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8749 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY 0007 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 2502 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 2675 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 9033 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0686 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2207 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4856 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR PRIORITY 1732 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0537 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001820
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KS
SUBJECT: ROK RECONSIDERING HOSTING APDP MEETING; REQUESTS
MORE INFORMATION
REF: A. STATE 94545
B. SEOUL 1757
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001820
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KS
SUBJECT: ROK RECONSIDERING HOSTING APDP MEETING; REQUESTS
MORE INFORMATION
REF: A. STATE 94545
B. SEOUL 1757
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: This is an action request. The ROK is giving
positive consideration to hosting the Asia Pacific Democracy
Partnership (APDP) Senior Officials' Meeting (ref A),the
Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral, Global, and Legal
Affairs Oh Joon told the DCM on September 12. Oh said,
however, that clarification and consultation are needed
before a final decision is made. Oh asked that we respond
with more information by September 16. End Summary
2. (C) In a September 12 meeting Oh requested with the DCM,
he said the ROK supports the U.S. APDP initiative and is
giving positive consideration to hosting the proposed APDP
Senior Officials' Meeting. Before the ROKG makes a final
decision, however, Oh requested a response to the following
by September 16:
-- Invitations: Oh would like U.S. assistance in ensuring
Assistant Secretary-level (or equivalent) participation. Oh
also asked to confirm the U.S. representative.
-- Host or Co-Host: Oh asked whether the USG was proposing
that the ROK should host alone or co-host with the U.S.
There were advantages either way and the ROKG would be
flexible, Oh said.
-- Invitees: Oh asked whether the list of invitees could be
expanded to include a larger group of countries than
participated in the July 2008 planning meeting in Mongolia,
although he would not name any additional countries to
invite. Oh said the ROK wants to minimize the possibility of
negative inference by non-participating countries who might
think the APDP is discriminatory or exclusive.
-- Outcomes: Oh requested that the U.S. propose a set of
expected concrete outcomes for the meeting to ensure the
meeting would not just repeat what had been done in Mongolia.
He said that the ROK would want the proposed outcomes before
issuing invitations. Would there, for example, be
institutional elements as an outcome? He also said the APDP
should have some defining regional characteristics to
distinguish it from the Community of Democracies. On neither
of these points, however, did Oh make any specific
recommendations.
3. (C) Oh said he would like a decision to be made by
September 19 on whether to host the meeting. He will be in
New York September 21-27 for UNGA-related events and would
want to issue invitations before he departs Seoul. While in
New York, Oh would also like to meet with relevant Department
representatives in New York to discuss the meeting. Oh said
the ROK would propose holding the Senior Officials' meeting
on Monday, October 27 or Friday, October 31, because, just
before or after a weekend, travel would be easier and would
ensure better participation.
4. (C) Comment: After initially declining to host the
meeting (ref B),it is clear MOFAT is moving toward a
decision to host. Our MOFAT contacts told us on September 11
that the decision was with Foreign Minister Yu (who will
return from Mongolia over the weekend). Later in the day, Oh
requested a meeting with the DCM. If we can address Oh's
questions and assure him of our support, it is likely Korea
will host the Senior Officials' Meeting.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KS
SUBJECT: ROK RECONSIDERING HOSTING APDP MEETING; REQUESTS
MORE INFORMATION
REF: A. STATE 94545
B. SEOUL 1757
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: This is an action request. The ROK is giving
positive consideration to hosting the Asia Pacific Democracy
Partnership (APDP) Senior Officials' Meeting (ref A),the
Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral, Global, and Legal
Affairs Oh Joon told the DCM on September 12. Oh said,
however, that clarification and consultation are needed
before a final decision is made. Oh asked that we respond
with more information by September 16. End Summary
2. (C) In a September 12 meeting Oh requested with the DCM,
he said the ROK supports the U.S. APDP initiative and is
giving positive consideration to hosting the proposed APDP
Senior Officials' Meeting. Before the ROKG makes a final
decision, however, Oh requested a response to the following
by September 16:
-- Invitations: Oh would like U.S. assistance in ensuring
Assistant Secretary-level (or equivalent) participation. Oh
also asked to confirm the U.S. representative.
-- Host or Co-Host: Oh asked whether the USG was proposing
that the ROK should host alone or co-host with the U.S.
There were advantages either way and the ROKG would be
flexible, Oh said.
-- Invitees: Oh asked whether the list of invitees could be
expanded to include a larger group of countries than
participated in the July 2008 planning meeting in Mongolia,
although he would not name any additional countries to
invite. Oh said the ROK wants to minimize the possibility of
negative inference by non-participating countries who might
think the APDP is discriminatory or exclusive.
-- Outcomes: Oh requested that the U.S. propose a set of
expected concrete outcomes for the meeting to ensure the
meeting would not just repeat what had been done in Mongolia.
He said that the ROK would want the proposed outcomes before
issuing invitations. Would there, for example, be
institutional elements as an outcome? He also said the APDP
should have some defining regional characteristics to
distinguish it from the Community of Democracies. On neither
of these points, however, did Oh make any specific
recommendations.
3. (C) Oh said he would like a decision to be made by
September 19 on whether to host the meeting. He will be in
New York September 21-27 for UNGA-related events and would
want to issue invitations before he departs Seoul. While in
New York, Oh would also like to meet with relevant Department
representatives in New York to discuss the meeting. Oh said
the ROK would propose holding the Senior Officials' meeting
on Monday, October 27 or Friday, October 31, because, just
before or after a weekend, travel would be easier and would
ensure better participation.
4. (C) Comment: After initially declining to host the
meeting (ref B),it is clear MOFAT is moving toward a
decision to host. Our MOFAT contacts told us on September 11
that the decision was with Foreign Minister Yu (who will
return from Mongolia over the weekend). Later in the day, Oh
requested a meeting with the DCM. If we can address Oh's
questions and assure him of our support, it is likely Korea
will host the Senior Officials' Meeting.
VERSHBOW