THAILAND NON-COMMITTAL ON ITSO DEMARCHE

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001595 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/CIP/TS (DOUGLAS MAY) E.O. 12958, AS AMENDED: N/A TAGS: AORC ECON ECPS EFIN INTELSAT KTIA PREL TSPA TH SUBJECT: THAILAND NON-COMMITTAL ON ITSO DEMARCHE REF: STATE 68550 SENSTIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. ¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel talking points on July 2 to Mr. Chaiyan Peungkiatpairote, Executive Director of the Space Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT). ¶2. (SBU) Mr. Chaiyan stated that he was unable to provide an official response at this time as the Royal Thai Government (RTG) would need time to carefully consider the issue. He suggested the RTG may be able to share a position next week. (Note: Embassy Bangkok will be closed July 3 and 6. The RTG will be closed July 6-8. We will follow-up with Mr. Chaiyan next week. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) Mr. Chaiyan stated that at present, no one from the RTG is scheduled to attend the Extraordinary Assembly of Parties of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) on July 8-9 in Rome because of budgetary limitations. However, upon receiving reftel talking points, he said that he would like to send a representative from MICT, if possible. If not, he plans to request that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegate an individual from the Thai embassy in Rome to attend. JOHN