1. Per reftel, Post welcomes the opportunity to help
improve the global maritime security framework. The Port of
Durban is the largest of South Africa's seven ports and the
busiest in Africa. Its container terminal is the largest in
the southern hemisphere. In addition, it is uniquely
situated to link North America with the Middle East, India,
Asia, Africa, and Australia. Recognizing its significance,
the United States established a Container Security
Initiative (CSI) at the port in 2003. Post is also working
with the U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security
Liaison Officer (IPSLO) to plan a visit to South Africa in
April 2005 which would lay the groundwork for a July 2005
evaluation of security practices at the Port of Durban.



2. Maritime security issues in the Mission are managed by
an Economic Officer as well as regional Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) officers based in South Africa. The Economic and
CBP/ICE offices have a good working relationship and
interact on an ad hoc basis as well as through monthly Law
Enforcement Working Group (LEWG) meetings. Although the
LEWG forum typically devotes its time to addressing law-
enforcement matters, it also discusses inter-governmental
collaboration on maritime security concerns such as the
Container Security Initiative.



3. South Africa's 2006 and 2007 Mission Performance Plans
(MPP) address maritime security through the "Prevention and
Response to Terrorism" section. Its goal is to work with
South Africa in the war on terror by deepening the
relationships between USG agencies and their South African
counterparts, including those involved in maritime security.
The LEWG is instrumental in the implementation of all
aspects of this MPP objective.



4. South Africa has repeatedly expressed interest in
collaborating with the United States on maritime issues. In
2003, the South African government contacted the Embassy to
express formal interest in entering into Search and Rescue
and Maritime agreements. Earlier this year, the Ports of
Cape Town and Durban entered into International Sister
Seaport agreements with the Port of Miami-Dade to cooperate
in areas of trade, tourism, and development. In addition,
U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner and South Africa
Customs Commissioner Pravin Gordhan successfully lobbied the
World Customs Organization to adopt supply chain security
measures. They ultimately hope to persuade the World Trade
Organization to endorse these supply chain standards as
well. Post believes that fertile ground exists in South
Africa for expanded cooperation on maritime security.

FRAZER