GHANA HOSTS REGIONAL SEMINAR ON UNSCR 1540

UNCLAS ACCRA 003005

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS ALL AFRICAN DIPLOMATIC POSTS

LONDON FOR FCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP ETTC PARM PREL PTER AORC XA GH
SUBJECT: GHANA HOSTS REGIONAL SEMINAR ON UNSCR 1540
IMPLEMENTATION FOR AFRICA

REF: STATE 168327


1. SUMMARY: Ghana hosted Africa's first outreach activity on
United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, the
UN Regional Seminar on Implementing UN Security Council
Resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa, in Accra on November 9-10,

2006. Representatives from 23 African countries attended the
event. The seminar served to increase awareness of 1540 by
non-reporting countries, including by sharing the experiences
of reporting African countries, and also focused on
availability of implementation assistance. Department
officers Jane Purcell, ISN/CPI, and Michael Bittrick, AF/RSA,
participated for the USG. END SUMMARY.


2. The UN Department for Disarmament Affairs (DDA),with
sponsorship by the EU and Norway, organized the first UNSCR
1540 seminar for Africa in Accra, Ghana November 9-10. UNSCR
1540 places binding obligations on all UN Member States to
adopt and enforce appropriate laws to prevent the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD),their
means of delivery, and related items. In April 2006, the UN
Security Council extended the mandate of its 1540 Committee
for two years (UNSCR 1673) and decided to intensify outreach
efforts to promote its full implementation.


3. The seminar sessions covered: status of implementation and
national experience in reporting (presentations by 1540
Committee Expert, Ghana, and Kazakhstan); implementing
measures related to accounting, securing, and the physical
protection of nuclear, chemical and biological items,
including related materials and means of delivery
(presentations by South Africa, the UK, the OPCW, and the
IAEA); reporting and implementation measures related to
border and export controls (presentations by the World
Customs Organization (WCO) and Algeria); and, setting
priorities for cooperation and assistance in implementation
of resolution 1540 (presentations by the United States, IAEA,
OPCW, 1540 Committee Expert, and Kenya).

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Highlights of Seminar Sessions
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4. The first session included a general overview on UNSCR
1540 by 1540 Committee Expert Monteleone-Neto. (Note: Many
of the participants were unfamiliar with UNSCR 1540, and some
described the seminar as "eye-opening." End Note.) 1540
Committee Chairman Ambassador Peter Burian's (Slovakia)
keynote address also provided an overview of the importance
and obligations of 1540.


5. Ghana reported on its efforts to organize key stakeholder
institutions for 1540 implementation. The GOG is drafting a
Weapons of Mass Destruction Bill, which it hopes will be
passed in 2007. Ghana stated it needed help primarily with
public education and outreach. It cited the example of
educating the chemical industry, as well as import-export
companies, on the importance of CWC implementation. Ghana
also is interested in assistance with organizing and training
its governmental 1540 implementation committees and border
security agencies.


6. Kenya reported a need for assistance in controlling its
air, sea and land borders, noting the several failed states
around its northern borders and its experience as a victim of
terrorism. Kenya's presentation also highlighted a need for
emergency response training, but stated that the U.S has
provided assistance. Kenya also noted its lack of expertise
in creating and enforcing the legislative and regulatory
infrastructure needed for 1540 implementation. Congo and
Gabon also said they needed assistance with training.


7. South Africa and Algeria reported on their achievements in
implementing 1540. Algeria also expressed the view that the
counter-terrorism aspect of 1540 was being ignored, making
the point that terrorism is faced by all countries, and
counter-terrorism frameworks can be built upon to implement

1540.


8. The U.S. presentation, which was handed out along with
copies of reftel para 3 text, reiterated U.S. priorities
regarding UNSCR 1540. The United States urged all states
that have not yet done so to submit a report and to adhere to
the CWC and BWC, described the 1540 Committee's role in
facilitating implementation efforts, outlined existing U.S.

assistance programs, and recommended that states develop
action plans. A number of other presenters also discussed
action plans as the next step for countries to undertake
after completing their initial report. South Africa
recommended that states form interagency implementation
committees and seek the services of a specialized consultant,
such as one of the 1540 Committee Experts or a nationally
funded consultant.

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The Way Ahead
--------------


9. On the second day of the seminar, there was considerable
discussion of the next steps for the African region in 1540
implementation. The European Union (EU) representative
expressed hope that there would be future seminars. Gabon
said the next step should be meetings of sub-regional groups.
In particular, groups of countries bordering each other
could work together to develop coordinated border controls.
The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
echoed with a request for the UN to organize further seminars
at the sub-regional level. The DDA responded that it was
planning to hold sub-regional seminars and informal
exchanges, and offered to help states with preparing national
reports.


10. South Africa said that sub-regional organizations were
the best place to get real work done on 1540 implementation.
The African Union (AU) was too big, but it would be useful to
obtain an expression of support for 1540 implementation by
the AU. Ghana suggested that future seminars be held
exclusively for states that have submitted reports and for
states that have not submitted reports, as well as separate
seminars on the theme of developing legislation for
Anglophone and Francophone countries. One reason was that
Anglophone countries base their legislation on British law,
while Francophone countries base their legislation on French
law. (Comment: Separating states that have and have not
reported would be contrary to the desired regional and
sub-regional approach and would be difficult to implement.
Post will work with GOG officials on a more integrated
approach. Submission of the first report is a necessary step
but the long-term focus for all states is on implementation,
to improve regional security capacities commensurate with
overall development assistance. End Comment.)


11. Relevance of 1540 to Africa: Interventions were made by
Rwanda, Algeria, Tanzania, and ECCAS that small arms and
light weapons (SA/LW) pose more of a threat to Africa than
WMD. The DDA and the UK acknowledged this fact, but
emphasized that implementing 1540 would bring side benefits
in controlling SA/LW trafficking through enhanced training
and border controls. South Africa was held up as a model for
controlling both SA/LW and WMD proliferation. DDA
Under-Secretary General Tanaka also affirmed that WMD poses a
risk to Africa, noting that proliferator A.Q. Khan often
traveled to Africa. Kenya noted that expertise and
facilities capable of producing BW and CW exist in Africa.
Some participants suggested states could develop
comprehensive legislation to control both WMD and SA/LW
simultaneously.


12. In his closing remarks, Tanaka urged all African states
to submit a report to the 1540 Committee, encouraged states
to indicate in their reports what kind of assistance they
need to implement 1540, encouraged them to utilize the 1540
Committee as a clearing-house in matching requests for
assistance with assistance offers by donors, and noted the
importance of follow-up outreach activities in Africa
organized as sub-regional seminars or thematic workshops,
such as on developing national action plans.


13. List of participating countries: Algeria, Botswana,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Liberia,
Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Russia, Rwanda, Sao
Tome and Principe, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, United
Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe.


14. Participating international organizations: Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS),Economic Community
of Central African States (ECCAS),UN 1540 Committee, UN
Department for Disarmament Affairs, European Union,
International Atomic Energy Agency, Organization for the

Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, World Customs Organization.

BROWN