PREPARATIONS FOR THE CICTE FIFTH REGULAR SESSION

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000196 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/USOAS, WHA/PPC, WHA/BSC, S/CT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL AORC PA SUBJECT: PREPARATIONS FOR THE CICTE FIFTH REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 16-18, IN PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD REF: SECSTATE 17684 ¶1. On February 8, PolOff met with Julio Arriola, Director of Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to deliver reftel demarche regarding the upcoming fifth session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) in Port of Spain, Trinidad, February 16-18, 2005. ¶2. Arriola said Director Braulio Ferreira, the Vice-Minister of Internal Security will be leading the Paraguayan delegation to the session. Director Ferreira will be accompanied by Arriola, who is a primary contact on counterterrorism issues in the GOP. ¶3. Paraguay ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism in December 2004. Regarding the use of language previously agreed to in past CICTE meetings, referring to "connections" between terrorism and related crimes, Arriola said he agreed with the U.S. position and would be discussing this and other counterterrorism issues with Director Ferreira later this week, prior to the session. JOHNSON