Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA55
2003-01-08 22:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WORKING GROUP

Tags:  PTER CVIS PREL PGOV APER SNAR GT 
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UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000055 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, ALSO FOR D/HS, HOMELAND SECURITY GROUP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER CVIS PREL PGOV APER SNAR GT
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WORKING GROUP

REF: 02 STATE 263389

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000055

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, ALSO FOR D/HS, HOMELAND SECURITY GROUP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER CVIS PREL PGOV APER SNAR GT
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WORKING GROUP

REF: 02 STATE 263389


1. Embassy Guatemala has established a Homeland Security
Working Group (HSWG) comprising all the agencies at Post with
law enforcement or security responsibilities, as well as
appropriate Mission section heads. The HSWG will ensure Post
is able to coordinate its resources to provide Mission-wide
support for "Homeland Security Abroad" initiatives. The HSWG
will meet every other week, or as needed, to implement
instructions from Washington and to follow up on initiatives
generated at post. The HSWG will be chaired by the DCM, and
the Political Section will serve as coordinator.


2. The HSWG will work in close coordination with the EAC and
other standing committees responsible for transnational crime
issues, but will not replace those committees. The Rule of
Law Committee, the Visas Viper Committee, and the Narcotics
and Corruption Committee will address issues that arise in
their particular areas of responsibility, but that do not
specifically involve threats to homeland security. The EAC
will continue functioning normally, and will be able to
invoke the HSWG if it determines the emergency it is
addressing also involves a threat to homeland security.


3. In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks,
post set up a similar working group to coordinate
Mission-wide responses to terrorism, with good results. The
Counter-Terrorism Working Group proved to be both responsive
to Washington and adaptable to changing local conditions.
The Homeland Security Working Group will make that function
permanent.
Hamilton