Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL1847
2008-09-17 07:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
ROK CLOSE TO AGREEMENT TO HOST APDP; REQUESTS U.S.
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001847
SIPDIS
DRL FOR A/S KRAMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KS
SUBJECT: ROK CLOSE TO AGREEMENT TO HOST APDP; REQUESTS U.S.
VIEWS ON PRELIMINARY THINKING
REF: A. STATE 94545
B. SEOUL 1757
C. STATE 98066
D. HALL-CAMPONOVO TELCON
E. 9/16/08
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4(b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001847
SIPDIS
DRL FOR A/S KRAMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KS
SUBJECT: ROK CLOSE TO AGREEMENT TO HOST APDP; REQUESTS U.S.
VIEWS ON PRELIMINARY THINKING
REF: A. STATE 94545
B. SEOUL 1757
C. STATE 98066
D. HALL-CAMPONOVO TELCON
E. 9/16/08
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Based on the Department's answers to his
queries (refs B-D),Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral,
Global, and Legal Affairs Oh Joon told the DCM on September
17 that he would recommend to the Foreign Minister that the
ROK agree to host the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership
(APDP) Senior Officials' Meeting (ref A). Oh outlined
further issues to be addressed in planning the meeting and
requested our views and assistance. Post strongly recommends
that DRL A/S Kramer meet Oh in New York on September 26 at
the Community of Democracies meeting, as Oh requested, to
discuss plans for the APDP meeting. End Summary
2. (C) Oh told the DCM that he would recommend to Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan that the ROKG agree to host an APDP
Senior Officials' Meeting on October 31, 2008. Oh said he
expects a final decision before he and the Foreign Minister
depart for New York on September 21.
3. (C) Oh also requested, however, our views on the following
preliminary ROKG ideas for the meeting:
-- The ROK would plan to open the meeting with keynote
addresses by Foreign Minister Yu and Mongolia's Foreign
Minister.
-- Three working sessions would follow the keynote remarks.
Oh proposed that the ROK would chair the first session, the
U.S. chair the second, and an ASEAN country, possibly the
Philippines, would chair the third. Oh said the ROK has not
yet discussed this plan with the Philippines.
-- Invitees would include the Community of Democracy
countries which were invited to the July 2008 Mongolia-hosted
APDP meeting, plus Thailand. Oh said issuing invitations
with separate but coordinated demarches by the USG and the
ROKG would be most effective.
-- The ROK expects that participants would bear their own
expenses, except that the ROK is planning to assist Mongolia.
Oh asked whether the U.S. would similarly assist Timor Leste
if necessary.
-- In preparation for the meeting, the ROK would want to
share a concept paper with a concrete agenda. Oh asked that
we provide ideas for a more specific agenda.
-- The ROK anticipates that the results of the meeting would
be published in the form of non-binding, consensual "Chair
Summary."
4. (C) Recommendation: Agreeing to host the APDP Senior
Officials' Meeting is no small decision for the ROKG,
especially since its key neighbor China will not be invited
to participate in this regional gathering. Also of concern
for the ROK is the likely negative reaction from North Korea.
Nonetheless, consistent with its own democratic ideals and
desire to support regional U.S. policy initiatives, South
Korea will likely decide to host the APDP meeting. In this
context, Post strongly recommends that DRL A/S Kramer
personally meet Deputy FM Oh in New York on September 26 to
discuss plans for the APDP session in Seoul. Please confirm
the appointment prior to Oh's departure for New York on
September 21.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
DRL FOR A/S KRAMER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KDEM KS
SUBJECT: ROK CLOSE TO AGREEMENT TO HOST APDP; REQUESTS U.S.
VIEWS ON PRELIMINARY THINKING
REF: A. STATE 94545
B. SEOUL 1757
C. STATE 98066
D. HALL-CAMPONOVO TELCON
E. 9/16/08
Classified By: DCM Bill Stanton. Reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Based on the Department's answers to his
queries (refs B-D),Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral,
Global, and Legal Affairs Oh Joon told the DCM on September
17 that he would recommend to the Foreign Minister that the
ROK agree to host the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership
(APDP) Senior Officials' Meeting (ref A). Oh outlined
further issues to be addressed in planning the meeting and
requested our views and assistance. Post strongly recommends
that DRL A/S Kramer meet Oh in New York on September 26 at
the Community of Democracies meeting, as Oh requested, to
discuss plans for the APDP meeting. End Summary
2. (C) Oh told the DCM that he would recommend to Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan that the ROKG agree to host an APDP
Senior Officials' Meeting on October 31, 2008. Oh said he
expects a final decision before he and the Foreign Minister
depart for New York on September 21.
3. (C) Oh also requested, however, our views on the following
preliminary ROKG ideas for the meeting:
-- The ROK would plan to open the meeting with keynote
addresses by Foreign Minister Yu and Mongolia's Foreign
Minister.
-- Three working sessions would follow the keynote remarks.
Oh proposed that the ROK would chair the first session, the
U.S. chair the second, and an ASEAN country, possibly the
Philippines, would chair the third. Oh said the ROK has not
yet discussed this plan with the Philippines.
-- Invitees would include the Community of Democracy
countries which were invited to the July 2008 Mongolia-hosted
APDP meeting, plus Thailand. Oh said issuing invitations
with separate but coordinated demarches by the USG and the
ROKG would be most effective.
-- The ROK expects that participants would bear their own
expenses, except that the ROK is planning to assist Mongolia.
Oh asked whether the U.S. would similarly assist Timor Leste
if necessary.
-- In preparation for the meeting, the ROK would want to
share a concept paper with a concrete agenda. Oh asked that
we provide ideas for a more specific agenda.
-- The ROK anticipates that the results of the meeting would
be published in the form of non-binding, consensual "Chair
Summary."
4. (C) Recommendation: Agreeing to host the APDP Senior
Officials' Meeting is no small decision for the ROKG,
especially since its key neighbor China will not be invited
to participate in this regional gathering. Also of concern
for the ROK is the likely negative reaction from North Korea.
Nonetheless, consistent with its own democratic ideals and
desire to support regional U.S. policy initiatives, South
Korea will likely decide to host the APDP meeting. In this
context, Post strongly recommends that DRL A/S Kramer
personally meet Deputy FM Oh in New York on September 26 to
discuss plans for the APDP session in Seoul. Please confirm
the appointment prior to Oh's departure for New York on
September 21.
VERSHBOW