Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK2806
2009-11-03 11:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND WILL SUPPORT GERMANY, ITALY, AND GREECE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBK #2806 3071127 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031127Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8801 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5467
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002806
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR - BRIAN G. HACKETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNGA UNGA KUNR KJUS KAWC
APER, AORC, TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND WILL SUPPORT GERMANY, ITALY, AND GREECE
FOR U.N. ICSC IN VOTE SWAPS
REF: A. STATE 109341
B. BANGKOK 1306 (THAILAND TO CONSIDER U.S.
CANDIDATE FOR UN ICSC)
Classified By: Political Counselor George P. Kent, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002806
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR - BRIAN G. HACKETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNGA UNGA KUNR KJUS KAWC
APER, AORC, TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND WILL SUPPORT GERMANY, ITALY, AND GREECE
FOR U.N. ICSC IN VOTE SWAPS
REF: A. STATE 109341
B. BANGKOK 1306 (THAILAND TO CONSIDER U.S.
CANDIDATE FOR UN ICSC)
Classified By: Political Counselor George P. Kent, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) PolOff engaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Department of International Organizations official Ranoppun
Kapittai November 3 to follow up a meeting we had October 28
with Department of International Organizations Deputy
Director-General Medha Promthep to seek support for Lucretia
Myers' candidacy for the U.N. International Civil Service
Commission (ICSC)(ref B). Ranoppun stated that the RTG had
decided not to support Ms. Myer's candidacy because Thailand
had entered into a vote swap deal with Germany and Italy in
which the RTG would support those nations' candidates for the
ICSC in exchange for support for Thailand's candidate for the
U.N. World Heritage Committee. In a separate vote swap deal
with Greece, Thailand agreed to support Greece's candidate to
the U.N. ICSC in exchange for support for Thailand's
candidate for the U.N.International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB). (Note: The Thai candidate was successfully elected
to both the World Heritage Committee and the INCB. End
note.)
2. (C) Ranoppun said the RTG Thailand had made it a high
priority to have a representative on the World Heritage
Committee due to the ongoing border dispute with Cambodia
regarding overlapping territory claims adjacent to the Preah
Vihear temple. This had become an issue of particular
concern following the listing of the temple as a world
heritage site. As there had also been a Cambodian candidate
for the World Heritage Committee, Thailand had wanted to do
all it could to have a representative on the Committee in
order "to bring balance to the Committee", Ranoppun said.
With vote trading becoming increasingly common in the U.N.,
Ranoppun opined that it could become increasingly difficult
for the RTG to vote with the U.S. without Thailand receiving
voting considerations in return. Ranoppun stated that as a
result of U.S. support of Thailand's candidate for the U.N.
World Heritage Committee, if there were to be a second round
of voting that the RTG would then support Ms. Myers'
candidacy.
JOHN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR - BRIAN G. HACKETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNGA UNGA KUNR KJUS KAWC
APER, AORC, TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND WILL SUPPORT GERMANY, ITALY, AND GREECE
FOR U.N. ICSC IN VOTE SWAPS
REF: A. STATE 109341
B. BANGKOK 1306 (THAILAND TO CONSIDER U.S.
CANDIDATE FOR UN ICSC)
Classified By: Political Counselor George P. Kent, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) PolOff engaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Department of International Organizations official Ranoppun
Kapittai November 3 to follow up a meeting we had October 28
with Department of International Organizations Deputy
Director-General Medha Promthep to seek support for Lucretia
Myers' candidacy for the U.N. International Civil Service
Commission (ICSC)(ref B). Ranoppun stated that the RTG had
decided not to support Ms. Myer's candidacy because Thailand
had entered into a vote swap deal with Germany and Italy in
which the RTG would support those nations' candidates for the
ICSC in exchange for support for Thailand's candidate for the
U.N. World Heritage Committee. In a separate vote swap deal
with Greece, Thailand agreed to support Greece's candidate to
the U.N. ICSC in exchange for support for Thailand's
candidate for the U.N.International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB). (Note: The Thai candidate was successfully elected
to both the World Heritage Committee and the INCB. End
note.)
2. (C) Ranoppun said the RTG Thailand had made it a high
priority to have a representative on the World Heritage
Committee due to the ongoing border dispute with Cambodia
regarding overlapping territory claims adjacent to the Preah
Vihear temple. This had become an issue of particular
concern following the listing of the temple as a world
heritage site. As there had also been a Cambodian candidate
for the World Heritage Committee, Thailand had wanted to do
all it could to have a representative on the Committee in
order "to bring balance to the Committee", Ranoppun said.
With vote trading becoming increasingly common in the U.N.,
Ranoppun opined that it could become increasingly difficult
for the RTG to vote with the U.S. without Thailand receiving
voting considerations in return. Ranoppun stated that as a
result of U.S. support of Thailand's candidate for the U.N.
World Heritage Committee, if there were to be a second round
of voting that the RTG would then support Ms. Myers'
candidacy.
JOHN