Cablegate: Laos Will Consider Attending July Aphis Seminar In

VZCZCXRO9048
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHVN #0411 1380319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180319Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1230
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2177
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1013
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1180
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7780
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0142
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000411

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS - BESTIC
STATE PASS USTR FOR KATZ
USDA APHIS FOR LEMLY AND ALFALLA
COMMERCE FOR PHO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID ETRD ASEAN PREL LA
SUBJECT: LAOS WILL CONSIDER ATTENDING JULY APHIS SEMINAR IN
VIETNAM

REF: STATE 57266

Econoff met May 14 with Deputy Director General (DDG) Bounsom
Phommavihane of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to discuss the
upcoming regional SPS seminar in Ho Chi Minh City (reftel). DDG
Phommavihane was interested in the opportunity but unable to give a
firm answer as to Laos' attendance. He told Econoff he would share
the information with the appropriate officials throughout the Lao
government and hoped to make a decision on the GOL's attendance
following a meeting of ASEAN economic officers May 22-24 in Chiang
Mai. He intends to raise the issue with his counterparts and seek
their advice. We will continue to urge the Lao government to
attend.

HASLACH

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