CAMBODIA: REVIEW REPORT BEFORE EXTENDING THE

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000035 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR P, D, DRL, IO, F, EAP/MLS - J. EMERY NSC FOR E. PHU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM BM CB SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: REVIEW REPORT BEFORE EXTENDING THE TRIPARTITE CORE GROUP IN BURMA REF: STATE 3932 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION ON THE INTERNET. ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Ec Chief raised reftel talking points with MFA Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn January 16, noting especially that ASEAN and Cambodia would burnish their credentials in the international community by continuing with the Tripartite Core Group's (TCG) notable humanitarian work. ¶2. (SBU) Kao Kim Hourn appreciated that the TCG served to bolster ASEAN's profile as a regional organization and could enhance its reputation. He also took note of the USG's interest in seeing the TCG extend its mandate for another year beyond July 2009. However, he said that he was under instructions not to support extension at this time. The Royal Government of Cambodia wants to wait for the full report on the work of the TCG first, and then after review of that report, it would take a decision about extending. He nonetheless undertook to report the USG interest in taking a decision now to extend the TCG mandate. CAMPBELL