Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK469
2009-02-24 10:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI MFA UNDERSTANDS IMPORTANCE OF ARF VDR,
how-toVZCZCXRO0688 PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #0469 0551007 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241007Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6147 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6801 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9457 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5497 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5293 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1409 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 6199 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000469
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH
SUBJECT: THAI MFA UNDERSTANDS IMPORTANCE OF ARF VDR,
SUGGESTS PHILIPPINES AS CO-HOST ENGAGE
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000469
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH
SUBJECT: THAI MFA UNDERSTANDS IMPORTANCE OF ARF VDR,
SUGGESTS PHILIPPINES AS CO-HOST ENGAGE
1.(SBU) We engaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director of
the Department of ASEAN Affairs Phasporn Sangasubana February
12 to urge Thai participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) Voluntary Disaster Relief (VDR) exercise in the
Philippines in May. Phasporn explained that disaster
management and relief is a priority for Thailand and the MFA,
particularly given its role as current ASEAN Chair and
planned co-chair of the Intersessional on Disaster Relief.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers, meeting in Pattaya, Thailand
February 25-27, would also discuss disaster relief management.
2. (SBU) Phasaporn stated that there still was potential for
both civilian (MFA) and military participation in the ARF VDR
and hoped for a positive response. The MFA was encouraging
both the Ministry of Defense and Interior (MOI) to
participate, but the Ministries as the potential force
providers would have to make their own decisions. The MOI's
Disaster Mitigation Department served as Thailand's civilian
focal point for disaster management. The military continued
to have concerns due to the lack of a Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) between Thailand and the Philippines.
Phasporn said that it was possible that the military could
participate in the ARF VDR in the absence of a SOFA, if the
activities involved were of limited enough scope, similar to
a &Command Post exercise.8 She asked if there were other
options for participation along such lines.
3. (SBU) MFA Counselor Suriya suggested that it would help
considerably if the Philippines as the ASEAN co-host were to
engage the Thai on sending participants and not leave the
diplomatic engagement solely to the U.S. Until now, claimed
Suriya, the Thai had not heard similar requests from the
Philippines, and they wondered how extensive the ASEAN
participation would be without the host actively promoting
the activity.
JOHN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH
SUBJECT: THAI MFA UNDERSTANDS IMPORTANCE OF ARF VDR,
SUGGESTS PHILIPPINES AS CO-HOST ENGAGE
1.(SBU) We engaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director of
the Department of ASEAN Affairs Phasporn Sangasubana February
12 to urge Thai participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) Voluntary Disaster Relief (VDR) exercise in the
Philippines in May. Phasporn explained that disaster
management and relief is a priority for Thailand and the MFA,
particularly given its role as current ASEAN Chair and
planned co-chair of the Intersessional on Disaster Relief.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers, meeting in Pattaya, Thailand
February 25-27, would also discuss disaster relief management.
2. (SBU) Phasaporn stated that there still was potential for
both civilian (MFA) and military participation in the ARF VDR
and hoped for a positive response. The MFA was encouraging
both the Ministry of Defense and Interior (MOI) to
participate, but the Ministries as the potential force
providers would have to make their own decisions. The MOI's
Disaster Mitigation Department served as Thailand's civilian
focal point for disaster management. The military continued
to have concerns due to the lack of a Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) between Thailand and the Philippines.
Phasporn said that it was possible that the military could
participate in the ARF VDR in the absence of a SOFA, if the
activities involved were of limited enough scope, similar to
a &Command Post exercise.8 She asked if there were other
options for participation along such lines.
3. (SBU) MFA Counselor Suriya suggested that it would help
considerably if the Philippines as the ASEAN co-host were to
engage the Thai on sending participants and not leave the
diplomatic engagement solely to the U.S. Until now, claimed
Suriya, the Thai had not heard similar requests from the
Philippines, and they wondered how extensive the ASEAN
participation would be without the host actively promoting
the activity.
JOHN