Cablegate: Cambodia On Bilateral Shipboarding Agreement

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPF #0665 1311053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111053Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8419

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000665

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, ISN/CPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM KNNP KTIA PREL CB
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA ON BILATERAL SHIPBOARDING AGREEMENT

REF: STATE 57843

1. (U) On May 10, A/DCM met with Yos Makana who is head of
the Department of the Americas, as well as her deputy, Chhay
Song Heng to discuss the shipboarding agreement and provide
the draft talking points included in reftel. Makana was
pleased to receive USG reassurances, but noted that following
the earlier Embassy meeting with MFA Secretary of State Ouch
Borith, the MFA had sent the draft agreement to the
Ministries of Defense and Transport for comment. So far, the
MFA has not had any response. Makana noted that she would
provide both Ministries with the talking points as well as
the list of other countries with which the USG has signed a
bilateral shipboarding agreement. She asked that the USG
give Cambodia an opportunity to more fully digest the draft
agreement and identify potential areas where further
clarification and discussion might be necessary.

2. (SBU) Comment. The RGC is not ready for a USG team
visit at this stage. We suggest waiting a month before
querying the MFA again, at which point we will try to
identify officials within the relevant Ministries apart from
the MFA with a stake in this initiative, and meet separately
with them to try and move the RGC along. End Comment.
MUSSOMELI

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