DASD CLAD VISIT TO LAOS CONTINUES MIL-MIL PROGRESS; LAO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VIENTIANE 000562 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS EAID PREL LA SUBJECT: DASD CLAD VISIT TO LAOS CONTINUES MIL-MIL PROGRESS; LAO DATT TO DC IN FEBRUARY REFS: A) 07 Vientiane 0092 - B) 07 State 88478 - C) 07 Vientiane 0625 - D) 07 Vientiane 0725 - E) 07 Vientiane 0790 - F) 07 Vientiane 0914 - G) 08 Vientiane 0410 - H) 08 Vientiane 0485 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: OSD's DASD James Clad may be the highest-ranking Pentagon policy official to have visited Vientiane since 1975. While senior DPMO officials involved in the MIA accounting process have visited regularly, Dr. Clad's visit sends another positive signal about the improving and broadening bilateral military-military relationship as the two sides prepare for the upcoming exchange of defense attaches. The Lao Vice Defense Minister focused on practical defense cooperation and asked the United States to do more English language training for Lao military officials. The Vice Foreign Minister was more interested in regional politics and raised the U.S.-China-Taiwan triangle with his OSD visitor. Both officials seemed very comfortable in the meetings. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: The U.S.-Lao defense relationship, while modest, is steadily warming. DASD Clad's meetings with senior leadership were very positive and friendly - a contrast to interaction in earlier years. The Lao government gave the visit more than usual visibility; his call on the Vice Defense Minister ran with a photo and story on the front page of the "Lao People's Army Times," while a clip of DASD Clad's visit appeared on the Lao Army's weekly TV broadcast the next day. This is unusual: normally, Lao Army TV reports appear several days or even a week behind other media reports. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT continued: The Army newspaper placement and TV timing appears carefully designed in this controlled media environment to send a very positive message to the Lao military community. The message undoubtedly also reached other interested parties in Vientiane including the ASEAN, Chinese, and Russian military attaches. (Note: This is the second positive message about U.S. relations recently in the "Lao People's Army Times:" the photo/story of the mid-July ceremony at which the Ambassador turned over PACOM-donated medical supplies to the military hospital in Vientiane had also appeared on its front page.) End comment. ¶4. (U) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. James C. Clad visited Vientiane October 7-9. Dr. Clad was accompanied by OSD Southeast Asia Country Director Mr. Dinh M. Lai and PACOM Southeast Asia Policy Division Deputy Director Captain (Sel.) Pat Kelly, U.S. Navy. While in Vientiane, Dr. Clad met with key Government of Laos (GOL) officials including Major General Somphet Thipmala, Vice Minister, Ministry of National Defense (MND); Vice Foreign Minister Phongsavath Boupha; and Ambassador Khouanta Phalivong, Director General of MFA's Europe-Americas Department. ¶5. (U) Dr. Clad also addressed more than 70 Lao officials from a broad range of ministries on "U.S. Security Policy in Southeast Asia" at the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA). IFA is the Lao equivalent of the U.S. National Foreign Affairs Training Center. It provides training for all Lao diplomats and MFA officials, in addition to foreign affairs department staff from the provinces. Finally, Dr. Clad met with unexploded ordnance (UXO) specialists from the Lao National Regulatory Agency as well as UXO-clearing NGOs. Vice Defense Minister: Lao DATT to arrive Feb 2009 -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Vice Minister MG Somphet was friendly and outgoing during the meeting with DASD Clad. MG Somphet cited the improving U.S.-Lao relationship and mentioned particularly cooperation with JPAC's MIA accounting mission. He noted that the GOL receives a wide range of assistance from the USG in poverty reduction, UXO clearance, health, and trade and investment. MG Somphet also cited broadening bilateral mil-mil cooperation and was pleased that two MND officers had just returned from training at the Defense Language Institute in Texas with improved skills in English, preparatory to their assignment to the new Defense Attach Office in Washington. ¶7. (SBU) Dr. Clad began by briefly reviewing the successful start of U.S.-Vietnam political-military discussions, the inaugural meeting of which had occurred the day before in Hanoi. He then described U.S. defense relationship with Asia-Pacific and ASEAN countries, VIENTIANE 00000562 002 OF 003 including Laos, as vital. The presence of the United States in the reQn is to work together with countries in Asia and assist them according to their desires and needs. MG Somphet welcomed the presence of the United States in the region. ¶8. (SBU) DASD Clad highlighted the upcoming U.S.-Lao exchange of defense attaches as a good step in strengthening our mil-mil relationship. He commended the Lao choice for DATT, COL Kenekeo Pholsena, as very capable and experienced - already having been the Lao DATT in Burma (1996-98),Indonesia (2003-06),and China (2006-present). After Dr. Clad noted our DATT would arrive in December, MG Somphet said that COL Kenekeo would arrive in Washington, D.C. by the end of February - after the Lao People's Army celebrates its 60th anniversary in January 2009. ¶9. (SBU) MG Somphet highlighted the importance to the Lao military of improving English language skills because English is the common language used in ASEAN. He requested that the United States provide English language training, either via programs in Laos or by sending more Lao military personnel to attend programs in the United States. He demurred discussing other specific military cooperation that might be possible in the future, saying to "leave it to our DATTs to discuss in detail." MFA Meetings: Bilateral Dialogue, TIP, China -------------- ¶10. (SBU) VFM Phongsavath and DASD Clad opened by referring to the recent meeting in New York between EAP Bureau Assistant Secretary Hill and Lao Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith and the possibility of A/S Hill participating in future sessions of the annual U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD) which began in 2006. VFM Phongsavath described the bilateral cooperation as going very well with the upcoming DATT exchange as aQher key step forward. In a separate conversation, MFA DG Ambassador Khouanta asked if the next session of the CBD might be held in the United States. ¶11. (SBU) VFM Phongsavath highlighted, among other issues, the increasing number of tourists coming to Laos as the country opened to the outside world. He said the GOL is working to create a good environment and maintain stability to allow safe visits for these visitors. Phongsavath noted Laos has borders with five countries (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma) which he called "good neighbors" - but added that increased human trafficking has also resulted from the more open environment. Despite the difficulty in tracking the movement of traffickers, Laos is working to arrest those violating Lao laws and put them on trial. He added that human trafficking was ONE of the issues discussed in Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) meetings. ¶12. (SBU) DASD Clad and VFM Phongsavath also discussed the increased presence of Chinese in Laos, including the large casino built by a Chinese company at the Boten border crossing in Luang Namtha Province. Phongsavath, who seemed a bit discomfited about this issue, explained that, at the time of the original land lease, the Chinese company had asked that Laos put its border check points south of the casino complex -- to allow casino patrons from China "free access" to the area. Phongsavath said the GOL was now in negotiation with the Chinese about moving the check points back to the border line to better control those crossing into Lao territory. ¶13. (SBU) VFM Phongsavath then moved the conversation to a regional discussion, asking about the recent U.S. decision to sell a new package of arms to Taiwan and the decision's potential impact on U.S.-PRC relations. He noted the danger of Taiwan's desire for independence. The Ambassador emphasized U.S. commitment to a peaceful resolution of the issue of Taiwan's future, the need to maintain a balance across the Taiwan Strait, our careful consideration of the weapons requested by Taiwan, and the defensive nature of the weapons the United States chose to sell. DASD Clad added his expectation that the depth and breadth of current military contacts between the United States and China would help counterbalance Beijing's short-term disappointment with our decision. IFA Presentation: U.S. Security Policy toward ASEAN -------------- -------------- ¶14. (SBU) DASD Clad described U.S. security policy in Southeast Asia to a large audience of GOL officials invited from the Foreign, National Defense, Public Security, Finance, and other ministries as well as other GOL organizations and academic institutions. While VIENTIANE 00000562 003 OF 003 recognizing our difficult past with Laos, Dr. Clad emphasized the need to look to the future and for the two sides to work together "in a way that reinforces the independence of Laos." He emphasized that U.S. policies toward Asia are based on U.S. national interests which will not change whoever wins the upcoming Presidential election. Dr. Clad also pointed out that U.S. defense and security cooperation with ASEAN countries is increasingly multilateral as the definition of security becomes wider than in the past to include, for example, emergency assistance to countries hit by natural disasters. HAYMOND