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.

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SUMMARY
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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

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OBJECTIVES
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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.)

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BACKGROUND
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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.)

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POINT OF CONTACT AND REPORTING DEADLINE
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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