DEMARCHE ON THE 12 COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 004675 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT AND IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2009 TAGS: PTER ASEC TC SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON THE 12 COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS AND PROTOCOLS DELIVERED REF: STATE 269653 (U) Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge d'Affaires, a.i., reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Polchief delivered reftel demarche to MFA Director for International Organizations and Conferences Yacub Al Hosani December 21, urging the UAEG to make adoption of all 12 international counterterrorism conventions a priority. Al Hosani said that his government was very receptive to the principle of universal adoption and implementation of the conventions and protocols. He added that while there are some "procedural" questions that the UAEG needs to address concerning the three conventions and one protocol that it still has not adopted, there are no outstanding legal issues. "It's on our agenda to ratify them," he affirmed. ¶2. (C) Decisions related to UN counterterrorism conventions and protocols fall under the responsibility of a National Committee to Implement Security Council Resolution No. 1373, chaired by MFA Under Secretary Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi, Al Hosani explained. That committee is comprised of representatives from MFA, the ministries of Justice and Interior, UAE Armed Forces General Headquarters, the Central Bank, and Customs. Al Hosani said that he expects a decision in early 2005 that will establish the committee as the UAE's Anti-Terrorism Committee, as provided under the Anti-Terrorism Law adopted in July 2004. ALBRIGHT