EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001090 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, LSPRINGER, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW, AWEST CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR JBOCKLAGE AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR PZARESK AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH FOR MSWEENEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN CB SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - APRIL 2009 BANGKOK 00001090 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Advisor and officials from Thailand and Vietnam attended the Export Control Academy, Athens, GA, April 13-24. Program Assistant attended an ASEAN Export Control Workshop co-hosted by Thailand and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Apr. 27-29. DOE's Todd Perry conducted follow-on meetings at Ministry of Commerce and Customs. Contractor is arranging to transport the generator for the Rapiscan mobile x-ray van from Haiphong port to Hanoi. The Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) will conduct an Export Control Assessment in Vietnam, May 4-11. Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) will conduct the second phase of a Tracker expansion demonstration project in Vietnam, May 11-15. Officials from Cambodia will attend an EXBS Senior Professional Exchange (SPE) in Washington, DC, May 18-21. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) The Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Thai Office of Atoms for Peace co-hosted an Export Control Workshop for ASEAN countries, Apr. 27-29. The conference was prompted by the plans of several ASEAN countries to develop nuclear power. Besides Thailand, representatives from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Burma, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary and the U.S. attended. The Thai delegation included officials from the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Council of State, Ministry of Industry, National Security Council, Customs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Defense and National Intelligence Agency. Thailand's broad representation indicated that the government understands the comprehensive nature of the safeguards required for the development of nuclear power. EXBS will continue to support the interagency coordination required to institutionalize these improvements, including a study visit by senior officials to Washington in June and a second Government-Industry Outreach seminar in September. DOE's Todd Perry conducted follow-on meetings at the Ministry of Commerce and Customs to highlight technical assistance available through the International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP). ¶3. (U) As follow-up to the U.S. Coast Guard's maritime security assessment in Vietnam, Advisor continues to work with post and USCG to coordinate a visit within the next few months by senior VMP and MOD officials to USCG Headquarters in Washington DC and training facilities at Yorktown, VA. Post is working to deconflict this visit with another visit focusing on Seach and Rescue proposed by USPACOM for the same agencies. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶4. (U) Advisor and officials from Thailand and Vietnam attended the Export Control Academy, Athens, GA, April 13-24. Thai officials included a policy officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a legislative drafting officer from the Office of Council of State. Vietnamese officials included licensing officers from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Agency for Radiological and Nuclear Safety (VARANS). EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) SAIC is coordinating with Rapiscan to have the electrical generator for the Rapiscan mobile x-ray van transported from Haiphong port to Customs headquarters in Hanoi. Customs will transport the generator to the van in Hue, where Rapiscan will complete the installation in the van. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶6. (U) The Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) will conduct an Export Control Assessment in Vietnam, May 4-11. Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) will conduct the BANGKOK 00001090 002.2 OF 002 second phase of a Tracker expansion demonstration project in Vietnam, May 11-15. Officials from Cambodia will attend an EXBS Senior Professional Exchange (SPE) in Washington, DC, May 18-21. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) None. ¶8. (U) Contact information for EXBS Program is: William Comley, Advisor, comleywa@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4621; Kamolrat Chotesungnoen (Dao),Program Assistant, Kamolrat@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4403. JOHN