DAS MARCIEL MEETS SINGAPORE MFA ASEAN DIRECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 001185

SIPDIS

EAP/MTS - COPPOLA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SN
SUBJECT: DAS MARCIEL MEETS SINGAPORE MFA ASEAN DIRECTOR
KWOK FOOK SENG

Classified By: CDA DANIEL SHIELDS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Summary: Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) and
Ambassador to ASEAN Scot Marciel discussed U.S.-ASEAN
relations with MFA ASEAN Director Kwok Fook Seng during a
visit to Singapore December 9. Singapore will support U.S.
efforts to include businesses in the 2010 ASEAN trade
ministers visit to the United States. Singapore believes the
U.S.-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group (EPG) must have a clear
mandate and high-level participation to be effective.
Although Singapore is not enamored of Australia's Asia
Pacific Community idea, it does not share Vietnam's concerns
that the inclusion of Russia and the United States in the
East Asian Summit would cause "cultural discomfort." ASEAN's
next opportunity to engage the Burmese on the issue of
reforms would be in January during the ASEAN Foreign
Ministers Retreat, where an informal setting might facilitate
discussion. Singapore hopes Vietnam's chairmanship of ASEAN
will provide a catalyst to spur the organization towards
economic integration. End Summary.

Trade Ministers Road Show
--------------


2. (C) The U.S. Government is working with the U.S.-ASEAN
Business Council (USABC) to help set up a visit by the ASEAN
trade ministers to the United States for sometime in 2010,
DAS Marciel noted. DAS Marciel said he hoped that ASEAN
business leaders would also participate in the visit, which
would be a good marketing opportunity for ASEAN, and would
support U.S.-ASEAN business connectivity. Kwok agreed and
said Singapore would support any efforts to include
businesses in the visit.

Eminent Persons Group
--------------


3. (C) Kwok, commenting on lessons learned from experiences
with Eminent Persons groupings between ASEAN and China, South
Korea and Japan, said high-level participation and a
strategic focus would be key to the success of the U.S.-ASEAN
EPG. Kwok said the EPG representatives should include
business leaders, former high-level officials and academia.
Noting that ASEAN proceedings sometimes get bogged down in
minutiae, Kwok suggested that Singapore and the United States
work together at the upcoming ASEAN meetings in Manila to
ensure that the Terms of Reference for the establishment of
the U.S.-ASEAN EPG be clear, focused and concise.

Regional Architecture
--------------


4. (C) On the topic of regional architecture, Kwok said some
countries, such as Vietnam, objected to expanding the East
Asian Summit to include Russia and the United States because
of "cultural differences." The Government of Singapore does
not agree with Vietnam's assertion and is willing to provide
assistance should the United States wish to join the EAS,
Kwok said.


5. (C) Kwok said Singapore was dismayed that Australian
officials cast ASEAN-wide concerns about Australia's Asia
Pacific Community (APC) idea as Singapore-only concerns.
Singapore was unhappy with Australia's proposition that a
small coordinating group of countries meet annually to
discuss the APC, viewing this as akin to mission-creep. Kwok
said Singapore believes that any future regional structures
must be Trans-Pacific rather than Pan-Asian.

Burma
--------------


6. (C) DAS Marciel provided a readout of the trip that A/S
Campbell and he took to Burma in November, noting that the
junta did not signal any clear commitment to move forward on
reform. Kwok replied that the next opportunity for ASEAN to
engage the Burmese will be in January, during the ASEAN
Foreign Ministers Retreat. The informal atmosphere of a
retreat should facilitate discussion, he said.

ASEAN
--------------


7. (C) DAS Marciel raised concerns over recent events in
Vietnam which suggested a step backwards on human rights.
Kwok, who was scheduled to depart for Vietnam the following
day, said he was not up to speed on the latest developments,
but shared U.S. concerns. Still, Kwok said a lot of hope is
being pinned on Vietnam, as the ASEAN chair, to provide the
momentum that will allow ASEAN to regain its stride.

SINGAPORE 00001185 002 OF 002




8. (U) DAS Marciel did not have the opportunity to clear this
message.

KENGOTT

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