EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001956 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, ROWEN, LSPRINGER, EAP/MLS DSMITH, MFORINO, 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 AMEMBASSY JAKARTA FOR PVALDEZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL CB TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - JULY 2009 BANGKOK 00001956 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Wisconsin Project staff conducted proliferator database training in Bangkok, July 14-16. Advisor conducted EXBS program coordination meetings in Jakarta, July 16-17. U.S. Coast Guard conducted Port Security training at Bangkok and Laem Chabang ports, July 20-31. Advisor escorted a delegation of Vietnamese officials to Interdict/RADACAD training, July 27-31, and a delegation of Thai officials on an International Visitors Program, August 3-5. Vietnam Program Assistant escorted Vietnamese officials on a visit to U.S. Coast Guard headquarters and training facilities, August 3-7. Coordination of radiation pager donations in Thailand and Vietnam continues. EXBS continues to assist DEA in transferring chemical analysis equipment to Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security. Advisor will return to U.S. for consultations, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Advisor conducted EXBS program coordination meetings in Jakarta, July 16-17. Advisor met with representative of several agencies at post, and with officials from Indonesian Customs and the Ministries of Trade and Foreign Affairs. Officials welcomed EXBS assistance, particularly enforcement-related support. Due to a busy fall schedule of activities at post, in-country EXBS events will resume after the new year, which will coincide with installation of new Indonesian ministry officials. Additional details provided separately. ¶3. (U) Advisor met with Phnom Penh Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Chief on July 24 to discuss integration of EXBS resources into post's ongoing maritime security efforts. EXBS will likely fund USCG port security training in the late fall, but specific details will be worked out between ODC and USCG's International Training Division. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶4. (U) Wisconsin Project staff conducted an outreach visit to Bangkok, July 14-16. Representatives conducted proliferator database training sessions with licensing, enforcement and other officials from 12 agencies and industry associations. In addition, executive meetings were held with Customs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Industry and the Office of Atoms for Peace. The Office of Atoms for Peace intends to incorporate database resources into its own outreach program. ¶5. (U) The U.S. Coast Guard conducted Port Security training at Bangkok and Laem Chabang ports, July 20-31. Approximately 50 officials from various agencies participated at each location. This event was conducted at the request of the Thai Marine Department, and was focused on various aspects of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Presentations included speakers from the Thai National Intelligence Agency, Office of Atoms for Peace and Marine Department. Practical discussions included preventing terrorist infiltration and UNSCR 1874 enforcement. The Thai Marine Department is still interested in co-sponsoring a regional training event, pending resolution of EXBS regional funding. ¶6. (U) Advisor escorted a delegation of twenty Vietnamese officials to Interdict/RADACAD training at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in central Washington, July 27-31. The delegation included senior and working-level officials from seven different ministries. The training improved interagency awareness of proliferation-related issues, including topics raised during discussions at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phuket, Thailand, the previous week. Practical experience with radiation portal monitors should also facilitate Vietnam's BANGKOK 00001956 002.2 OF 002 inclusion in the Megaports program. ¶7. (U) Advisor escorted a delegation of Thai officials on an Export Controls International Visitors Program to Washington, D.C., August 3-5. The delegation was led by the Director of the Bureau of Trade Measures, Ministry of Commerce, and included representatives from six other ministries. Visitors met with counterparts in the U.S. Departments of State, Energy, Defense, Commerce and Homeland Security. The program was designed to provide input to preparations for the Thai Ministry of Commerce's next Export Controls Industry Outreach Seminar in October. ¶8. (U) Vietnam Program Assistant escorted five working-level officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense staff and Marine Police (VMP) on a visit to U.S. Coast Guard headquarters and training facilities, August 3-7. This visit was a follow-on to a similar DOD-sponsored visit by senior GVN officials in June. The purpose of this working-level visit was to facilitate the establishment of new USCG-VMP Partnership Program. EXBS will sponsor Boarding Officer Course training for VMP units in Haiphong and Phu Quoc in the fall. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶9. (U) Transfer of radiation pagers to the Thai Navy and Marine Police has been completed. Coordination for transfer of additional pagers to Thai Customs continues. Distribution of pagers to Vietnamese maritime agencies will be made during upcoming USCG Boarding Officer Course (Oct. or Nov., TBD),so that user training can be conducted concurrently. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶10. (U) Advisor and ISN/ECC are working to facilitate the transfer of surplus chemical analysis equipment (gas chromatography - mass spectrometry) from DEA to the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security's Forensic Science Department. In addition to giving the Vietnamese police the capability to identify illegal drugs, the equipment can also be used to analyze suspected WMD chemical compounds. Introductory awareness training occurred in conjunction with the RADACAD course in July; Advisor and PNNL will work with ECC to coordinate follow-on technical training in-country. ¶11. (U) Advisor will return to U.S. for consultations, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. 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