Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SINGAPORE818
2009-08-27 07:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
SINGAPORE HAS QUESTIONS CONCERNING NEW
how-toVZCZCXRO2187 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGP #0818/01 2390753 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 270753Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7120 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0131 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0001 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0054 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2256 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0160 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4293 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6003 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0253 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0050 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0049 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000818
SIPDIS
EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA
PM/PPA - D. HOPKINS AND D. FORAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2019
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE HAS QUESTIONS CONCERNING NEW
"PARTICIPATORY" SOLUTION TO CGPCS MEMBERSHIP
REF: SECSTATE 85758
Classified By: EP Counselor Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (b)(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000818
SIPDIS
EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA
PM/PPA - D. HOPKINS AND D. FORAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2019
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE HAS QUESTIONS CONCERNING NEW
"PARTICIPATORY" SOLUTION TO CGPCS MEMBERSHIP
REF: SECSTATE 85758
Classified By: EP Counselor Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (C) Summary: Singapore has several concerns about the new
U.S. proposal (reftel) to move beyond the concept of
membership to one of participation in the Contact Group for
Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS),MFA Special Projects
Deputy Director Iris Chen told POLOFF August 27. Chen said
Singapore is concerned that the Cyprus issue will continue to
impede the effective participation of new parties in the
CGPCS. Chen expressed concern that the new proposal might
create a two-tiered structure and inquired as to how the new
concept of "participation" would affect decision-making for
the group. Singapore is also concerned that a potentially
less-friendly nation hosting a CGPCS meeting down the road
might not be as willing as the United States and Japan to
include "participants," Chen said. Chen inquired as to the
reactions of other CGPCS participants to our proposal.
Lastly, Chen asked whether Iran and North Korea would be
allowed into the CGPCS. End Summary.
Will Cyprus Continue to be an Issue?
--------------
2. (C) In an August 27 conversation to discuss the new U.S.
proposal (reftel) to move beyond the concept of membership to
one of participation in the Contact Group for Piracy off the
Coast of Somalia (CGPCS),MFA Special Projects Deputy
Director Iris Chen told POLOFF that Singapore has several
concerns and questions about the new U.S. proposal. Despite
Poloff's assurances that the United States had consulted with
Greece and Turkey during the development of our new proposal,
Chen said Singapore is still concerned the ongoing dispute
between Greece and Turkey regarding Cyprus's potential
membership/participation in the CGPCS will continue to impede
the accession and effective participation of new
members/participants to the group.
Concerns About Two-Tiered Structure
--------------
3. (C) Chen expressed concern that the new U.S. proposal
could effectively create a two-tiered structure in the CGPCS:
one tier for the original members, the second tier for the
new "participants," she said. Given the potential for a
two-tiered structure, Chen inquired as to how the new concept
of "participation" would affect decision-making for the
group. She asked whether new "participants" would have the
same rights and responsibilities of the original members.
She also raised the question whether expanding involvement to
potentially include all UN-member countries diminish the
effectiveness of the organization.
Will Less-Friendly Hosts Still Invite Participants?
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Chen expressed concern that if countries "less
friendly than either the United States or Japan" hosted CGPCS
meetings in the future they might be inclined to exclude
non-members such as Singapore from participation. Chen asked
if there are plans to enact rules to ensure continued
participation in meetings.
5. (C) Chen asked whether Iran and North Korea would be
allowed to participate. She also inquired as to the
reactions of other countries the United States has demarched
on the proposal to denote countries as "participants" rather
than "members."
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Despite the present impediment to accession, Singapore
SINGAPORE 00000818 002 OF 002
has been an enthusiastic participant in CGPCS activities.
Singapore is rightly concerned that the new U.S. proposal
might relegate them to second-tier status and diminish
recognition for their contributions to the anti-piracy
effort. Singapore will follow up its recent (and now
completed) deployment of an LST and two Super Puma
helicopters to the Gulf of Aden by taking command of Task
Force 151 beginning next year. Despite the concerns raised
here, given Singapore's experience and success in conducting
anti-piracy operations in the Straits of Malacca, Post
expects Singapore's continued and effective participation in
anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. End Comment.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
SHIELDS
SIPDIS
EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA
PM/PPA - D. HOPKINS AND D. FORAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2019
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE HAS QUESTIONS CONCERNING NEW
"PARTICIPATORY" SOLUTION TO CGPCS MEMBERSHIP
REF: SECSTATE 85758
Classified By: EP Counselor Joel Ehrendreich for Reasons 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (C) Summary: Singapore has several concerns about the new
U.S. proposal (reftel) to move beyond the concept of
membership to one of participation in the Contact Group for
Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS),MFA Special Projects
Deputy Director Iris Chen told POLOFF August 27. Chen said
Singapore is concerned that the Cyprus issue will continue to
impede the effective participation of new parties in the
CGPCS. Chen expressed concern that the new proposal might
create a two-tiered structure and inquired as to how the new
concept of "participation" would affect decision-making for
the group. Singapore is also concerned that a potentially
less-friendly nation hosting a CGPCS meeting down the road
might not be as willing as the United States and Japan to
include "participants," Chen said. Chen inquired as to the
reactions of other CGPCS participants to our proposal.
Lastly, Chen asked whether Iran and North Korea would be
allowed into the CGPCS. End Summary.
Will Cyprus Continue to be an Issue?
--------------
2. (C) In an August 27 conversation to discuss the new U.S.
proposal (reftel) to move beyond the concept of membership to
one of participation in the Contact Group for Piracy off the
Coast of Somalia (CGPCS),MFA Special Projects Deputy
Director Iris Chen told POLOFF that Singapore has several
concerns and questions about the new U.S. proposal. Despite
Poloff's assurances that the United States had consulted with
Greece and Turkey during the development of our new proposal,
Chen said Singapore is still concerned the ongoing dispute
between Greece and Turkey regarding Cyprus's potential
membership/participation in the CGPCS will continue to impede
the accession and effective participation of new
members/participants to the group.
Concerns About Two-Tiered Structure
--------------
3. (C) Chen expressed concern that the new U.S. proposal
could effectively create a two-tiered structure in the CGPCS:
one tier for the original members, the second tier for the
new "participants," she said. Given the potential for a
two-tiered structure, Chen inquired as to how the new concept
of "participation" would affect decision-making for the
group. She asked whether new "participants" would have the
same rights and responsibilities of the original members.
She also raised the question whether expanding involvement to
potentially include all UN-member countries diminish the
effectiveness of the organization.
Will Less-Friendly Hosts Still Invite Participants?
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Chen expressed concern that if countries "less
friendly than either the United States or Japan" hosted CGPCS
meetings in the future they might be inclined to exclude
non-members such as Singapore from participation. Chen asked
if there are plans to enact rules to ensure continued
participation in meetings.
5. (C) Chen asked whether Iran and North Korea would be
allowed to participate. She also inquired as to the
reactions of other countries the United States has demarched
on the proposal to denote countries as "participants" rather
than "members."
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Despite the present impediment to accession, Singapore
SINGAPORE 00000818 002 OF 002
has been an enthusiastic participant in CGPCS activities.
Singapore is rightly concerned that the new U.S. proposal
might relegate them to second-tier status and diminish
recognition for their contributions to the anti-piracy
effort. Singapore will follow up its recent (and now
completed) deployment of an LST and two Super Puma
helicopters to the Gulf of Aden by taking command of Task
Force 151 beginning next year. Despite the concerns raised
here, given Singapore's experience and success in conducting
anti-piracy operations in the Straits of Malacca, Post
expects Singapore's continued and effective participation in
anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. End Comment.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
SHIELDS