VZCZCXRO5875
PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHC #3211/01 3251550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201544Z NOV 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4268
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2910
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1385
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 9178
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 6764
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 6267
INFO RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 7749

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 123211 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECIN PREL ASEAN
SUBJECT: ASEAN RELATED SUMMITS: BACKGROUND AND ACTION 
REQUEST 
 
REF: A. A) SINGAPORE 947 
     ¶B. B) STATE 121418 
 
 ¶1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST for Embassies in ASEAN 
capitals (except for Rangoon), and for BEIJING, CANBERRA, NEW 
DELHI, SEOUL, TOKYO and WELLINGTON. 
 
¶2. (U) Thailand will host a series of eight summit meetings 
in Chiang Mai from December 15 to 18: 
-- The Fourteenth ASEAN Summit; 
-- The Twelfth ASEAN plus 3 (China, Japan, Korea) Summit; 
-- The Twelfth ASEAN summit meetings individually with China, 
Japan, Korea; 
-- The Seventh ASEAN - India Summit; 
-- The Fourth East Asia Summit, which involves the ASEAN plus 
3 and India, Australia and New Zealand; 
-- The Third ASEAN - UN Summit. 
 
In addition, Thailand is planning to host a Global Issues 
Dialogue involving heads of United Nations, World Bank and 
International Monetary Fund and others. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The United States does not participate in these 
summit meetings, although we remain interested in the agenda 
for discussion and any results from summit decisions.  We are 
also interested in the regional community-building process 
these summits represent.  This year U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN 
Affairs, EAP DAS for Southeast Asia Scot Marciel, will attend 
some events during the meetings at the invitation of 
Thailand. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The agendas for these summit meetings have not been 
released, but discussions are expected to cover: the ASEAN 
Charter, which will come into force at the time of the 
summits; responses to the financial crisis, including the 
ASEAN plus 3 currency swap plan (ref A); energy, environment 
and climate change; and regional integration within ASEAN and 
the broader East Asia region.  Burma has been the subject of 
discussion and official statements at previous summit 
meetings and we expect it will be discussed again this year. 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) Action addressees are requested to discuss with host 
government officials at an appropriate level, and report host 
governments, views on the upcoming ASEAN and related 
summits.  Issues of interest include: 
 
-- The financial crisis and any actions they expect to be 
endorsed. 
-- The ASEAN Charter and prospects for ASEAN community 
building, specifically the economic, political and cultural 
pillars of the planned ASEAN Community. 
-- Plans to address resource constraints at the ASEAN 
Secretariat in Jakarta, better matching of donor assistance 
with ASEAN resources in cooperation programs with Dialogue 
partners, and plans to establish Permanent Representatives in 
Jakarta after the Charter comes into force. 
-- The Human Rights Body whose draft Terms of Reference will 
be reviewed by ASEAN leaders at their summit. 
-- Burma, including any plans at the summit to review 
ASEAN,s disaster relief efforts after Cyclone Nargis or 
address the political situation there (ref B). 
-- Regional security issues including Six-Party Talks on 
North Korea as was discussed last year 
-- Regional cooperation on global issues including energy 
security, food security, and climate change. 
-- Trade issues including regional FTAs and the Doha round. 
-- Future directions of these summits and organizations, 
particularly where the agenda and actions of the summit-level 
groups meeting in Thailand overlap APEC and the ASEAN 
Regional Forum, in which the U.S. is a member. 
-- Any goals that host governments have for the summits in 
December and for ASEAN in general in the coming months 
 
¶6. (U) Responses by December 1 will be most helpful. 
Additional reporting throughout the December summit meetings 
as information becomes available will also be welcome.  ASEAN 
related documents that provide additional background can be 
accessed via the State Department Intranet website 
http://eap.state.gov/EAPOffices/RSP/EAPRSP1.c fm and on the 
 
STATE 00123211  002 OF 002 
 
 
internet at http://www.asean-us-partnership.org/.  Please 
contact EAP/RSP Jack Andre (AndreJH@state.gov) or Kosuke 
Amiya (AmiyaKX@state.gov) with any questions or follow up. 
RICE