Cablegate: Gos Response to Australia's Proposed Language For

VZCZCXRO3726
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHGP #3460 3031006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301006Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1727
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 003460

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM SN
SUBJECT: GOS RESPONSE TO AUSTRALIA'S PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR
ARF CO-CHAIR'S STATEMENT

REF: STATE 178680

1. (SBU) Australian High Commission Political Counselor
Lucinda Bell met with Wong Chow Ming, Deputy Director of
MFA's ASEAN Directorate, before reftel arrived to discuss
proposed language for the ASEAN Regional Forum Chairman's
statement.

2. (SBU) Wong told Bell that Australia's language was
unlikely to be included in the Chairman's statement and that
individual country objections were likely. He noted that, as
co-host, Indonesia might be embarrassed by the proposed
language due to its historically "special relationship" with
the DPRK. Bell indicated that while Wong expressed doubt
about its prospects for acceptance, Singapore did not
question the merits of the statement.

3. (U) Embassy delivered reftel talking points to MFA
separately on October 30.
HERBOLD

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