Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SINGAPORE1207
2008-11-14 00:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
ASEAN SUMMIT: SINGAPORE KEEPS FINGERS CROSSED
how-toVZCZCXRO0563 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGP #1207 3190021 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 140021Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6010 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 001207
SIPDIS
EAP/MTS - COPPOLA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN ASEAN SN
SUBJECT: ASEAN SUMMIT: SINGAPORE KEEPS FINGERS CROSSED
Classified By: CDA Daniel Shields for Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 001207
SIPDIS
EAP/MTS - COPPOLA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN ASEAN SN
SUBJECT: ASEAN SUMMIT: SINGAPORE KEEPS FINGERS CROSSED
Classified By: CDA Daniel Shields for Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Singapore is guardedly optimistic the Thai-hosted
December 15-18 ASEAN Summit will go well, despite Thailand's
unsettled political situation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Deputy Director for ASEAN William Tan told E/P Counselor
November 11 he thought Thai officials would face logistical
challenges moving the summit from conference-friendly Bangkok
to Chiang Mai, but would benefit from having a relatively
light agenda focused mostly on "tying up loose ends" from
Singapore's chairmanship year. Tan said Thai officials
decided to move the summit because they were "sure" the
opposition would have tried to disrupt a Bangkok-based
summit.
2. (C) Tan expressed concern that the Thai King has not yet
signed off on the ASEAN Charter, the full ratification of
which ASEAN hopes to celebrate at the Summit. Referring to
the Thai parliament's passage of ratifying legislation in
September, Tan was unsure why the legislation had not yet
secured the King's approval and said that a decision will
have to be made soon on whether to schedule a rollout
ceremony. Other than approval from the King, the Charter
only awaits signatures from the Presidents of Indonesia and
the Philippines, both of which Tan expected to be routine.
Expressing sympathy for the challenges facing his Thai MFA
colleagues, Tan said all summit documents have been drafted
but, owing to Thailand's political situation, now must obtain
clearance through the Thai parliament.
3. (SBU) Otherwise, discussion of the economic crisis will
likely be the dominant theme at the summit, Tan said. ASEAN
hopes to organize a meeting with the heads of the World Bank,
World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) on the margins of the Summit that might also
include East Asia Summit (EAS) leaders. Tan noted that the
leaders would also meet with United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon on December 18. (Note: The ASEAN Summit, ASEAN
Plus Three and the East Asia Summit will all be held
consecutively in Chiang Mai December 15-18. End Note.)
US ELECTION RAISES ASEAN HOPES
--------------
4. (SBU) Tan said his ASEAN colleagues were very optimistic
about US-ASEAN ties following the election of Barack Obama as
U.S. President. Southeast Asians are hopeful that the
President-elect's personal experiences in the region will
incline him to engage strongly with ASEAN.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
SHIELDS
SIPDIS
EAP/MTS - COPPOLA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN ASEAN SN
SUBJECT: ASEAN SUMMIT: SINGAPORE KEEPS FINGERS CROSSED
Classified By: CDA Daniel Shields for Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Singapore is guardedly optimistic the Thai-hosted
December 15-18 ASEAN Summit will go well, despite Thailand's
unsettled political situation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Deputy Director for ASEAN William Tan told E/P Counselor
November 11 he thought Thai officials would face logistical
challenges moving the summit from conference-friendly Bangkok
to Chiang Mai, but would benefit from having a relatively
light agenda focused mostly on "tying up loose ends" from
Singapore's chairmanship year. Tan said Thai officials
decided to move the summit because they were "sure" the
opposition would have tried to disrupt a Bangkok-based
summit.
2. (C) Tan expressed concern that the Thai King has not yet
signed off on the ASEAN Charter, the full ratification of
which ASEAN hopes to celebrate at the Summit. Referring to
the Thai parliament's passage of ratifying legislation in
September, Tan was unsure why the legislation had not yet
secured the King's approval and said that a decision will
have to be made soon on whether to schedule a rollout
ceremony. Other than approval from the King, the Charter
only awaits signatures from the Presidents of Indonesia and
the Philippines, both of which Tan expected to be routine.
Expressing sympathy for the challenges facing his Thai MFA
colleagues, Tan said all summit documents have been drafted
but, owing to Thailand's political situation, now must obtain
clearance through the Thai parliament.
3. (SBU) Otherwise, discussion of the economic crisis will
likely be the dominant theme at the summit, Tan said. ASEAN
hopes to organize a meeting with the heads of the World Bank,
World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) on the margins of the Summit that might also
include East Asia Summit (EAS) leaders. Tan noted that the
leaders would also meet with United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon on December 18. (Note: The ASEAN Summit, ASEAN
Plus Three and the East Asia Summit will all be held
consecutively in Chiang Mai December 15-18. End Note.)
US ELECTION RAISES ASEAN HOPES
--------------
4. (SBU) Tan said his ASEAN colleagues were very optimistic
about US-ASEAN ties following the election of Barack Obama as
U.S. President. Southeast Asians are hopeful that the
President-elect's personal experiences in the region will
incline him to engage strongly with ASEAN.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
SHIELDS