EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003223 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 MMCNAMARA AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH FOR MSWEENEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL CB TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - DECEMBER 2009 REF: BANGKOK 03129 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Advisor attended a Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Export Control Experts Meeting in Hanoi, Dec. 8-10. Thai officials impounded an aircraft carrying 35 tons of weapons from North Korea on Dec. 11. Thai officials attended International Border Interdiction Training in the U.S., Dec. 14-18. DOE conducted a Commodity Identification Training (CIT) Workshop in Hanoi, Dec. 15-17. Advisor and ECONOFF met with a South Korean embassy official in Hanoi on Dec. 16 regarding a proposed YesTrade study trip. Advisor and POLOFF discussed integration of strategic trade controls in ASEAN initiatives with Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials on Dec. 22. DEA chemical analysis equipment for Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has arrived in-country. EXBS will complete the grant documentation and coordinate WMD technical training. Advisor will conduct semi-annual consultations in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4-6 and participate in a Thai Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) border trip, Jan. 11-13. ICE will conduct an Export Control Enforcement Workshop in Hanoi, Jan. 19-22. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Advisor attended a Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Export Control Experts Meeting in Hanoi, Dec. 8-10. Advisor briefed on EXBS efforts to strengthen regional mechanisms and linkages for strategic trade controls. Useful briefings were also presented on ASEAN initiatives related to strategic trade controls and South Korea's YesTrade automated export control system. ¶3. (U) Advisor and ECONOFF met with a South Korean embassy official in Hanoi on Dec. 16 regarding a proposed YesTrade study trip to Seoul for Vietnamese officials. Advisor invited the South Korean official to participate in selecting appropriate GVN officials and an additional escort as desired. ¶4. (U) Advisor and POLOFF discussed the integration of strategic trade controls into ASEAN initiatives at the invitation of Thai Foreign Ministry officials on Dec. 22. One particularly promising opportunity appears to be the ASEAN Connectivity initiative, adopted during the ASEAN Summit in October, 2009. In addition to the obvious benefits of increased trade and personal exchanges, connectivity also implies opportunities for increased illicit activities, including proliferation of WMD materials and technology. To avoid this situation, preventive measures must be implemented in advance. This issue will be considered during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in January. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶5. (U) Thai officials attended International Border Interdiction Training in the U.S., Dec. 14-18. Fourteen representatives from Thai Customs, Immigration, Border Patrol Police, Ministry of Defense and the Royal Thai Police's Transnational Crime Coordination Center participated. During the course, a senior Customs official presented a briefing on Thailand's recent confiscation of North Korean weapons at Don Muang airport, re-emphasizing the value of international cooperation. ¶6. (U) DOE conducted a Commodity Identification Training (CIT) Workshop in Hanoi, Dec. 15-17. Thirty-four officials from 9 ministries and agencies attended. Participation and retention of the material were very good, with officials scoring very well on visual recognition and knowledge tests at the conclusion of training. DOE team and Advisor also conducted a coordination meeting with officials from the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) regarding a more focused Advanced Protocol CIT workshop in the spring. This will also be a good time to propose assistance for developing a Vietnamese National CIT program. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶7. (U) DEA chemical analysis equipment for the Forensic Science Institute of Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has arrived in-country. EXBS will assist with Customs clearance and complete the grant documentation, and then coordinate with DOE for WMD technical training. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶8. (U) Advisor will conduct semi-annual consultations in Washington, D.C., Jan. 4-6, and participate in a Thai Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) border trip, Jan. 11-13. ICE will conduct an Export Control Enforcement Workshop in Hanoi, Jan. 19-22. ¶9. (U) The final phase of Vietnam's Tracker Demonstration Project has been postponed pending approval of VAT exemption for grant assistance by the GVN. A visit by Vietnamese officials to Korea for briefings on the YesTrade export control system is still being planned. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶10. (U) Thai officials confiscated 35 tons of North Korean weapons aboard a chartered cargo aircraft during a refueling stop at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok on Dec. 11. Thai officials credited the U.S. with providing critical information, but the Prime Minister emphasized that the seizure had been conducted under the provisions of UNSCR ¶1874. The weapons have been moved to another secure location for further analysis (see REFTEL). ¶11. (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