Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK1400
2009-06-10 09:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND DECLINES REQUEST TO HOST ASIA PACIFIC
how-toVZCZCXRO5084 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1400 1610947 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 100947Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7254 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1683 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7127 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5562 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9749 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 7608 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0001 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 6655 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BANGKOK 001400
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL - CAMPONOVO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND DECLINES REQUEST TO HOST ASIA PACIFIC
DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP SOM
REF: A. 08 BANGKOK 3099
B. 08 BANGKOK 1254
UNCLAS BANGKOK 001400
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL - CAMPONOVO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND DECLINES REQUEST TO HOST ASIA PACIFIC
DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP SOM
REF: A. 08 BANGKOK 3099
B. 08 BANGKOK 1254
1. (SBU) On June 9, the Thai MFA informed the ROK Embassy in
Bangkok that the RTG was unwilling to host the Asia Pacific
Democracy Partnership (APDP) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
and assume the APDP chairmanship in 2010. The RTG claimed
that its other international obligations, including
preparation for the ASEAN Plus 3 Summit in October and its
impending application for membership on the UN Human Rights
Council, precluded the RTG from assuming APDP
responsibilities. Additionally, the MFA indicated to the ROK
Embassy that it lacked adequate funding for APDP obligations.
Our ROK Embassy contact told us she remained optimistic that
this decision, which was made at the Director General level,
might be overturned by higher-ranking MFA officials. She
expected Seoul would request the Embassy to press the RTG to
reconsider, but she had not yet received instructions.
2. (SBU) Separately, an MFA official confirmed to us the ROK
Embassy's account of the RTG position, including that the
decision was made at the DG level, and did not indicate that
the MFA planned to consider the issue further. Our MFA
contact emphasized that, while the RTG is enthusiastic about
becoming a full member of APDP, it believed the request that
Thailand serve as chair was premature, especially since, per
the MFA's understanding, Thailand only holds observer status
at the present time. Our MFA contact further expressed
concern she and her colleagues did not fully understand the
role of the APDP chair.
ENTWISTLE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL - CAMPONOVO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND DECLINES REQUEST TO HOST ASIA PACIFIC
DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP SOM
REF: A. 08 BANGKOK 3099
B. 08 BANGKOK 1254
1. (SBU) On June 9, the Thai MFA informed the ROK Embassy in
Bangkok that the RTG was unwilling to host the Asia Pacific
Democracy Partnership (APDP) Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
and assume the APDP chairmanship in 2010. The RTG claimed
that its other international obligations, including
preparation for the ASEAN Plus 3 Summit in October and its
impending application for membership on the UN Human Rights
Council, precluded the RTG from assuming APDP
responsibilities. Additionally, the MFA indicated to the ROK
Embassy that it lacked adequate funding for APDP obligations.
Our ROK Embassy contact told us she remained optimistic that
this decision, which was made at the Director General level,
might be overturned by higher-ranking MFA officials. She
expected Seoul would request the Embassy to press the RTG to
reconsider, but she had not yet received instructions.
2. (SBU) Separately, an MFA official confirmed to us the ROK
Embassy's account of the RTG position, including that the
decision was made at the DG level, and did not indicate that
the MFA planned to consider the issue further. Our MFA
contact emphasized that, while the RTG is enthusiastic about
becoming a full member of APDP, it believed the request that
Thailand serve as chair was premature, especially since, per
the MFA's understanding, Thailand only holds observer status
at the present time. Our MFA contact further expressed
concern she and her colleagues did not fully understand the
role of the APDP chair.
ENTWISTLE