ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WORKING GROUP

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