ASEAN RELATED SUMMITS: BACKGROUND AND ACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 123211 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN PREL ASEAN SUBJECT: ASEAN RELATED SUMMITS: BACKGROUND AND ACTION REQUEST REF: A. A) SINGAPORE 947 ¶B. B) STATE 121418 ¶1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST for Embassies in ASEAN capitals (except for Rangoon),and for BEIJING, CANBERRA, NEW DELHI, SEOUL, TOKYO and WELLINGTON. ¶2. (U) Thailand will host a series of eight summit meetings in Chiang Mai from December 15 to 18: -- The Fourteenth ASEAN Summit; -- The Twelfth ASEAN plus 3 (China, Japan, Korea) Summit; -- The Twelfth ASEAN summit meetings individually with China, Japan, Korea; -- The Seventh ASEAN - India Summit; -- The Fourth East Asia Summit, which involves the ASEAN plus 3 and India, Australia and New Zealand; -- The Third ASEAN - UN Summit. In addition, Thailand is planning to host a Global Issues Dialogue involving heads of United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund and others. ¶3. (SBU) The United States does not participate in these summit meetings, although we remain interested in the agenda for discussion and any results from summit decisions. We are also interested in the regional community-building process these summits represent. This year U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, EAP DAS for Southeast Asia Scot Marciel, will attend some events during the meetings at the invitation of Thailand. ¶4. (SBU) The agendas for these summit meetings have not been released, but discussions are expected to cover: the ASEAN Charter, which will come into force at the time of the summits; responses to the financial crisis, including the ASEAN plus 3 currency swap plan (ref A); energy, environment and climate change; and regional integration within ASEAN and the broader East Asia region. Burma has been the subject of discussion and official statements at previous summit meetings and we expect it will be discussed again this year. ¶5. (SBU) Action addressees are requested to discuss with host government officials at an appropriate level, and report host governments, views on the upcoming ASEAN and related summits. Issues of interest include: -- The financial crisis and any actions they expect to be endorsed. -- The ASEAN Charter and prospects for ASEAN community building, specifically the economic, political and cultural pillars of the planned ASEAN Community. -- Plans to address resource constraints at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, better matching of donor assistance with ASEAN resources in cooperation programs with Dialogue partners, and plans to establish Permanent Representatives in Jakarta after the Charter comes into force. -- The Human Rights Body whose draft Terms of Reference will be reviewed by ASEAN leaders at their summit. -- Burma, including any plans at the summit to review ASEAN,s disaster relief efforts after Cyclone Nargis or address the political situation there (ref B). -- Regional security issues including Six-Party Talks on North Korea as was discussed last year -- Regional cooperation on global issues including energy security, food security, and climate change. -- Trade issues including regional FTAs and the Doha round. -- Future directions of these summits and organizations, particularly where the agenda and actions of the summit-level groups meeting in Thailand overlap APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum, in which the U.S. is a member. -- Any goals that host governments have for the summits in December and for ASEAN in general in the coming months ¶6. (U) Responses by December 1 will be most helpful. Additional reporting throughout the December summit meetings as information becomes available will also be welcome. ASEAN related documents that provide additional background can be accessed via the State Department Intranet website http://eap.state.gov/EAPOffices/RSP/EAPRSP1.c fm and on the STATE 00123211 002 OF 002 internet at http://www.asean-us-partnership.org/. Please contact EAP/RSP Jack Andre (AndreJH@state.gov) or Kosuke Amiya (AmiyaKX@state.gov) with any questions or follow up. RICE