GAINING HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR US-THAILAND ARF WORKSHOP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 086278 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID MARR ARF KCRS SUBJECT: GAINING HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR US-THAILAND ARF WORKSHOP ON STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION REF: ¶1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST for Embassies BEIJING, CANBERRA, COLOMBO, DILI, DHAKA, HANOI, ISLAMABAD, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, OTTAWA, PORT MORESBY, PHNOM PENH, SEOUL, SINGAPORE, TOKYO, ULAANBATTA, USEU BRUSSELS, VIENTIANE, WELLINGTON. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The United States and Thailand will co-chair an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Stabilization and Reconstruction Issues, September 10-12 in Bangkok, Thailand. All U.S. embassies in ARF member-countries are requested to briefly approach host governments, deliver the invitation package, and encourage strong participation in the workshop by relevant host government officials. Some of these embassies are asked to coordinate with Thailand's embassies in advance on your host government's requested presentation at the workshop. Through this ARF workshop, Department hopes to begin a conversation and further understanding in Asia on this emerging and cross-cutting issue of stabilization and reconstruction. END SUMMARY -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶3. (U) Departments instructs Embassy to pursue the following objectives with appropriate host government officials: (For all Embassies in ARF host governments: BEIJING, CANBERRA, COLOMBO, DILI, DHAKA, HANOI, ISLAMABAD, JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, OTTAWA, PORT MORESBY, PHNOM PENH, SEOUL, SINGAPORE, TOKYO, ULAANBATTA, USEU BRUSSELS, VIENTIANE, WELLINGTON.) -- If host government officials have not already received it from Thailand, deliver copies of the invitation package to the ARF Workshop on Stabilization and Reconstruction Issues (invitation package accessed via para 6). -- Convey that co-chairs United States and Thailand would like for workshop participants to exchange views among ARF governments on the emerging issue of stabilization and reconstruction for the first time in Asia. -- Encourage strong host government participation in the workshop from the relevant working-level, civil or military policy officials who would be involved with stabilization and reconstruction scenarios (this could include peacekeeping, law enforcement, or disaster relief officials). -- Express that the U.S. and Thailand co-chairs would welcome additional discussion and interventions from participants beyond those countries identified as presenters in the agenda. -- (If Needed) Convey that Thailand will soon distribute the administrative arrangements for the workshop. -- (If Needed) Convey to developing countries within ARF that limited funds from the Department are available for representatives from interested ARF countries if they are unable to pay for travel expenses associated with the workshop. (For BEIJING, CANBERRA, DHAKA, DILI, ISLAMABAD, NEW DELHI, TOKYO, USEU BRUSSELS, WELLINGTON) -- Coordinate with Thailand's embassy officials in advance of approaching host government officials to discuss the possibility of a coordinated approach to the appropriate host government officials. -- In addition to the above objectives, request a 10-15 minute presentation by your host government's delegation as noted in the agenda. -- (Note: Additional, country-specific views have been transmitted to these selected embassies through the relevant regional bureau country desks.) -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. (U) EAP and S/CRS have worked with Thailand to develop an ARF Workshop on Stabilization and Reconstruction Issues, September 10-12 STATE 00086278 002 OF 002 in Bangkok. ARF Foreign Ministers approved the workshop and its accompanying concept paper in Singapore on July 24. As the United States and Thailand are co-chairs, embassies are requested to support Thailand's efforts to encourage strong ARF government representation to the workshop. Thailand has already distributed the invitation via email to ARF contact points within all 27 ARF member-countries. ¶5. (SBU) Overall, Department objectives for this workshop are to begin a conversation and further understanding within the Asia-Pacific region on the emerging issue of stabilization and reconstruction. A few ARF governments have undertaken these operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and within Asia in places like Timor-Leste. Through this workshop, the Department hopes to: -- Provide an overview of this emerging issue. -- Discuss national experiences, either as an assisting or affected state, in stabilization, reconstruction, or similar operations. -- Provide two Asian case studies (Timor-Leste and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami) where ARF and relevant international organizations utilized stabilization and reconstruction operations and related skills. -- Identify the national capabilities that ARF governments already possess (peacekeeping, disaster relief, emergency operations, law enforcement, etc.) that can be utilized for cross-cutting stabilization and reconstruction operations. -- Identify some of the organizational, legal, and coordination obstacles to stabilization and reconstruction operations. -- (Note: Through relevant ARF meetings, Department officials have assured countries that this workshop is not designed to serve as a recruiting mechanism for ongoing Coalition stabilization and reconstruction operations, an issue a few ARF members privately raised in regards to Iraq and, to a lesser extent, Afghanistan.) -------------- POINT OF CONTACT AND REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶7. (U) POC: Please contact EAP/RSP Kevin Sheives at (202) 647-1217 or S/CRS Matt Cordova (202-663-0308) for any further background information or argumentation to meet these objectives or if host government officials are in need of Department funding for their participation. The workshop's invitation package and background on ARF, if needed, can be downloaded from the State Department Intranet website for ARF Issues: http://eap.state.gov/EAPOffices/RSP/ARF.cfm . ¶8. (U) REPORTING DEADLINE: Department requests post report back by August 21 either informally to the above POCs or via front-channel. Thailand embassies will be approaching your host governments, and coordinating with relevant U.S. embassies, during the week of August 11-15. ¶9. (U) Department greatly appreciates posts' assistance in this matter. RICE