EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 000895 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, LSPRINGER, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW, 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 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL CB TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM/CAMBODIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - MARCH 2009 BANGKOK 00000895 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted an assessment for expansion of the Tracker licensing system in Vietnam, Mar. 2-6. CTP conducted an Interagency Relations and Infrastructure Workshop in Hanoi, Mar. 17-19. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a maritime security assessment in Vietnam, Mar. 23-27. The generator for the Rapiscan mobile x-ray van in Hue is still at the port in Haiphong. Advisor and officials from Thailand and Vietnam will attend the Export Control Academy, Athens, GA, April 13-24. Program Assistant will attend an ASEAN Export Control Workshop co-hosted by Thailand and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Apr. 27-29. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted an assessment for expansion of the Tracker licensing system in Vietnam, Mar. 2-6. Team members met with officials from the General Department of Customs (GDC),the Vietnamese Agency for Radiological and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). A visit was also conducted to the GDC regional office at the port of Haiphong. The next phase, planned for May, will involve establishing connections at GDC with the licensing servers at VARANS and MoIT. The final phase of the demonstration project, to be completed over the summer, will involve establishing electronic links for viewing licenses and submitting additional information at the Haiphong regional office and Hanoi airport. ¶3. (U) The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a maritime security assessment in Vietnam, Mar. 23-27. The principal counterpart for the visit was the Vietnamese Maritime Police (VMP),a component of the Ministry of Defense (MOD). Meetings were also held with the Marine Bureau (VINAMARINE),Border Army and GDC, and at subordinate maritime units at Haiphong Port, Phu Quoc Island, and Vung Tau Port. The VMP has a mission portfolio very similar to the USCG which will facilitate an effective training partnership. The next step in establishing the partnership will be a visit within the next few months by senior VMP and MOD officials to USCG Headquarters in Washington DC and training facilities at Yorktown, VA. An interagency Boarding Officer Course (BOC), including weapons of mass destruction (WMD) interdiction, was discussed as a possible initial in-country training activity. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶4. (U) CTP conducted an Interagency Relations and Infrastructure Workshop in Hanoi, Mar. 17-19. Twenty officials, including representatives from GDC, MOIT, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST),MOD, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS),and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) attended. A representative from the Korea Strategic Trade Institute (KOSTI) joined the instructor team. In the current economic climate, the government of Vietnam is focused more on stimulating than controlling exports, but the training provided useful information on best practices for setting up a strategic trade management system once Vietnam's industrial and transshipment capacity resumes its growth. Vietnam currently produces few dual-use commodities, but the number will likely grow as its nuclear power plans progress. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) The electrical generator for the Rapiscan mobile x-ray van in Hue is still at the port in Haiphong. SAIC is coordinating with Rapiscan to have the unit delivered to Customs and installed on the van. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE BANGKOK 00000895 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (U) Advisor and officials from Thailand and Vietnam will attend the Export Control Academy, Athens, GA, April 13-24. Thai EXBS Program Assistant will attend a Nuclear Export Control Workshop for ASEAN countries co-hosted by Thailand and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Apr. 27-29. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) None. ¶8. (U) Contact information for EXBS Program is: William Comley, Advisor, comleywa@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4621; Kamolrat Chotesungnoen (Dao),Program Assistant, Kamolrat@state.gov, (66-2) 205-4403. JOHN