C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 002418

STATE FOR AF, AF/RSA, S/CT
TREASURY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DAS JAMES FALL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2012
TAGS: PTER PREL OAU XA
SUBJECT: (C) COUNTER-TERRORISM: COOPERATING WITH AFRICAN
UNION

REF: A. A) STATE 128067

B. B) 01 ADDIS 3495

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF RICHARD BELL; REASON 1.5 (D)


1. (C) ACTION REQUEST - SEE PARAGRAPH 4.


2. (C) REF A SOLICITED IDEAS ON HOW TO PROMOTE
COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
LAST NOVEMBER, REF B FORWARDED AN INFORMAL PROPOSAL BY OAU
ASST. SECGEN FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS SAID DJINNIT TO CONVENE A
MEETING OF OFFICIALS FROM ALL OAU MEMBER STATES WHO HAVE
OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASPECTS OF THE FIGHT AGAINST
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, E.G. BORDER SECURITY (CUSTOMS AND
IMMIGRATION), FINANCIAL-TRANSACTION MONITORING, JUDICIAL
COOPERATION, AND (PERHAPS SEPARATELY) INTELLIGENCE SHARING.
ON DECEMBER 11, HOWEVER, TREASURY DAS JAMES FALL (WHO WAS
HERE PRIMARILY TO DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH
ETHIOPIA) MET WITH OAU ASST. SECGEN FOR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
LAWRENCE AGUBUZU, WHO EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT
COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION IS BEST UNDERTAKEN BILATERALLY.
NONETHELESS, THE AFRICAN UNION (AU, INTO WHICH THE OAU HAS
OFFICIALLY TRANSFORMED ITSELF AS OF JULY 9) IS PLANNING TO
HOLD A MEETING ALONG THE LINES PROPOSED BY DJINNIT, IN
ALGIERS SEPTEMBER 11-14. NORWAY AND SPAIN HAVE PROVIDED
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TOWARDS THIS EVENT, AND A PREPARATORY
MEETING WAS HELD IN ADDIS ABABA AROUND THE BEGINNING OF MAY.


3. (C) WE SEE VALUE IN COOPERATING WITH THE AU:

- TO REINFORCE CONTINUALLY THE MESSAGE THAT THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM (GWOT) IS A MATTER OF SHARED INTEREST FOR ALL OF
US, AS WELL AS OF OVER-RIDING IMPORTANCE TO THE USG;

- TO NUDGE THE AFRICAN STATES COLLECTIVELY IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION (E.G. RATIFY AND ENFORCE ALL THE APPLICABLE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, FULLY ENFORCE UNSCR 1373);

- TO HELP THE AFRICAN STATES GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE;

- TO HELP US GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEIR
LIMITATIONS/NEEDS ARE.


4. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: STATE DEPT. PLEASE ADVISE IF
THERE IS ANY INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ALGIERS
MEETING, AND HOW WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP AT THIS END.


NAGY