05BANGKOK5456 MFA PROPOSES NOVEMBER 7 AND 8 FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
“39096″,”8/24/2005 10:36″,”05BANGKOK5456″,
“Embassy Bangkok”,”CONFIDENTIAL”,
“05BANGKOK5366″,
“This record is a partial extract of the original cable.
The full text of the original cable is not available.
“,”C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005456
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA (POWERS)
NSC FOR MORROW
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2015
TAGS: PGOV, MARR, MASS, TH, Strategic Dialogue
SUBJECT: MFA PROPOSES NOVEMBER 7 AND 8 FOR STRATEGIC
DIALOGUE
REF: BANGKOK 5366
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (a and d)
1. (C) MFA XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX told the
Ambassador on August 24 that the RTG looks forward to our
upcoming Dialogue to discuss security matters. XXXXXX
confirmed XXXXX will head the Thai delegation for the
Dialogue and that other Ministries, including the military
and NSC, will be represented. XXXXX formally suggested the
Dialogue be held in Bangkok on November 7 and 8 and asked
whether Washington could agree to those dates.
2. (C) XXXX suggested that any joint statement issued after
the upcoming September 19 bilateral meeting between PM
Thaksin Shinawatra and the President make mention of
Thaksin\’s pledge to set into motion an \”Action Plan\” to
strengthen the bilateral relationship and highlight the
Dialogue as a key part of that Action Plan. XXXX suggested
that an \”Action Plan\” could be virtually anything that we
wanted it to be and suggested that discussion of additional
ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship would be a good
topic for the Dialogue.
3. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
noted our need to now coordinate an agenda for the Dialogue.
XXXX indicated that, in addition to the agenda topics
discussed in reftel, the Thai would like to discuss seeking a
possible MOA on defense procurement modeled after the recent
MOA between the United States and Australia. XXXX also asked
that we use MFA\’s North American Affairs Division and the
Embassy as the conduit for setting the final agenda.
4. (C) In an aside with PolOff, XXXXX suggested that the
MOA would ideally help Thai private companies bid on U.S.
defense contracts and serve as a tangible way to demonstrate
benefits of Thailand\’s designation as a Major Non Nato Ally
(MNNA). XXXXXX also said that, contrary to her suggestions
outlined in reftel, the RTG may not have any problem with our
designating the talks a \”Strategic Dialogue.\” XXXX asked for
a few days to consult with other parts of her Government to
arrive at a coordinated position on the name.
BOYCE
“
