EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA DVISOR MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001293 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: /A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTT MNUC PARM PREL CBTH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA DVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - MAY 2009 BANGKOK 00001293 001.2 OF 002 SUMARY ¶1. (U) The Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) conducted an Export Control Assssment in Vietnam May 4-11. Advisor and embassy officials met with port, naval and marine police officials in Cambodia May 7-8. Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted the second phase of a Tracker expansion demonstration project in Vietnam May 11-15. Advisor discussed the proposed EXBS Anti-Corruption Workshop with officials at Thailand's civil service training institute and Ministry of Justice on May 15. Program Assistant attended an Asia regional high-teh trade fair in Bangkok on May 17. Officials frm Cambodia attended an EXBS Senior Professional Exchange (SPE) in Washington, D.C. May 18-21. The enerator for the Rapiscan mobile x-ray van in Hue as delivered to Customs on May 11. Advisor willattend the annual EXBS Advisor Conference in Tbiisi, Georgia June 1-4. Advisor and Program Assistant will visit Thai border crossings with Cambodi June 17-19. Officials from Thailand and Vietna will attend the Tenth International Export Contol Conference in Istanbul June 25-27. SITE ASSESMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) The Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) conducted an Eport Control Assessment in Vietnam May 4-11. Reearchers met with officials from twelve different offices and conducted visits to four field sites. All discussions were cordial with many offices expressing a desire for greater cooperation. The inal report with recommendations for targeting fture assistance is pending. ¶3. (U) Advisor and mbassy officials met with port, naval and marinepolice officials in Cambodia May 7-8. Sre Apel and Okhna Mong Ports are small, bulk cargo facilitie with limited connection to EXBS objectives, butSihanoukville Port is large enough, with signifiant container traffic, to warrant future assistace. Japan and China have provided container x-ray facilities. Post is currently coordinating USC initial Port Security and Boarding Officer Course, but future advanced training would be useful. Post is also assisting the government to establih a National Maritime Security Committee, which will be helpful in coordinating maritime security ssistance. ¶4. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners(CTP) conducted the second phase of a Tracker exansion demonstration project in Vietnam May 11-1. Consultants and Advisor met with officials from Customs, the Vietnamese Agency for Radiation an Nuclear Safety, and the National Chemical Agency. Vietnamese officials showed keen interest and caacity for adapting and integrating Tracker compoents into existing automatic information networks. Coordination continues for final phase of demostration project (tentatively in August). ¶5. (U) Advisor discussed the proposed EXBS Anti-Corruption Workshop with officials at Thailand's King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI, for civil service training) and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commissions (PACC, Ministry of Justice) on May 15. The PACC is just getting started, but the KPI was interested in collaborating and suggested integrating the Workshop into the academic schedule for ongoing courses. In subsequent discussions, the National Anti-Corruption Commissions (NACC) concurred with this approach. Advisor will follow up with KPI officials for scheduling (tentatively in August or early September). Advisor is also coordinating with post's Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) and the American Bar Association's Regional Anti-Corruption Advisor for locally-tailored input. ¶6. (U) Thai Program Assistant attended an Asia regional high-tech manufacturing trade fair (INTERMACH 2009) in Bangkok on May 17. Information obtained on exhibitors and participants will be shared with the Ministry of Commerce in BANGKOK 00001293 002.2 OF 002 developing the invitation list for our next Thai Industry-Government Strategic Trade Controls Outreach Seminar in the fall. ¶7. (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 for working-level Vietnamese Maritime Police (VMP) and Ministry of Defense (MOD) officials to USCG Headquarters in Washington DC and training facilities at Yorktown, VA. Visit is now scheduled for week of July 27. This event will follow the DOD-sponsored visit of a more senior delegation of MOD and VMP officials focused on Search and Rescue (SAR). TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶8. (U) Officials from several Cambodian ministries attended an EXBS Senior Professional Exchange (SPE) in Washington, D.C. May 18-21. Briefings were presented by representatives from the departments of State, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and Energy. This was the initial event in our new EXBS program for Cambodia, and Cambodian officials showed keen interest in continued cooperation. Advisor will work with ISN/ECC and post to develop appropriate follow-on activities. ¶9. (U) Vietnamese Program Assistant is providing translator support to DEA training in Danang May 25 - June 5. This assistance will develop new contacts for the EXBS program within the Ministry of Public Security. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶10. (U) The electrical generator for the Rapiscan mobile x-ray van was delivered to Customs headquarters in Hanoi on May 11. Customs will transport the generator to Hue, where Rapiscan will complete the installation in the van. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶11. (U) Advisor will attend the annual EXBS Advisor Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia June 1-4. Advisor and Program Assistant will travel on visit to Thai border crossings with Cambodia June 17-19. (Embassy Pol-Mil Officer will accompany and meet with other political and security figures.) Officials from Thailand and Vietnam will attend the Tenth International Export Control Conference in Istanbul June 25-27. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶12. (U) None. ¶13. (U) Points of contact for the EXBS Program are: William Comley, Regional Advisor, comleywa@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4621; Kamolrat Chotesungnoen (Dao),Thai Program Assistant, Kamolrat@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4403; Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, Vietnam Program Assistant, NguyenGH@state.gov, (84-4) 3850-6241. JOHN