Embassy Hosts Port Security Workshop to Draft Law

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000390

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP DHAYWOOD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT ECON PTER PREL MA
SUBJECT: Embassy Hosts Port Security Workshop to Draft Law

REF: Antan 206


1. Summary: Embassy co-hosted an inter-Ministerial workshop
with the GOM Ports Agency April 21 to draft implementing
legislation for the International Ship Port Facility
Security (ISPS) Code. Following two productive missions by
the U.S. Coast Guard in 2005(reftel),the main port at
Tamatave has already been removed from the Port Security
Advisory (PSA). Now plans are set to bring other ports up
to standard and to comply with the GOM's ISPS Code
obligations as a member of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO). End Summary.


2. Officials from the Vice Prime Minister's office,
Customs, Justice, Transportation, Defense, Police, Foreign
Affairs, Fisheries, Gendarmes, and the ports of Tamatave,
Majunga, Diego Suarez, and Tulear attended a day-long
workshop at the American Cultural Center April 21. Charge
d'Affaires opened the event with Port Authority Director
General Sambalis. PolEcon Chief delivered a presentation on
the links between development, trade, and port security,
then the DATT presented information about the international
maritime security conference to be held in Antananarivo in
July. The rest of the program was devoted to an explanation
of obligations under the ISPS and drafting a law to
implement the Code.

U.S. Coast Guard Motivates GOM
--------------


3. Following visits by the U.S. Coast Guard Port Security
Liaison in April and October 2005, the GOM Ministry of
Transport and Public Works, and its Maritime and River Port
Agency (APMF),have taken steps to comply with IMO security
standards. The main port at Tamatave, which handles most
overall international shipments and almost all containers,
was removed from the USCG PSA after sufficient improvements
were confirmed during the October 2005 visit (reftel).
Since that time, the Tamatave port, an autonomous and
privately-managed entity, has continued its upgrade plans to
secure the perimeter, control access, and improve screening.


4. DG Sambalis emphasized to the assembled GOM officials
that ISPS Code compliance was mandatory for Madagascar's
commercial links and its international reputation. He also
noted Tamatave had made significant progress under private
management, and said plans must be accelerated to do the
same at Majunga, Diego Suarez, and Tulear. Sambalis also
informed his colleagues better organization, not financing,
was the key element to ISPS Code compliance. For example,
access control and inter-agency coordination are simple
steps that must be taken.

Draft Law to Apply the ISPS Code
--------------


5. DG Sambalis and his staff conducted a short training
session to bring the 30 assembled officials up to speed on
the ISPS Code, then opened a working meeting on a draft
legal text. In the spirited four hour debate that ensued,
Ministry stakeholders expressed their concerns, noted what
legal authorities they would need to comply with ISPS,
discussed alternatives, and arrived at a consensus on most
aspects of the new law. The Ministry and Port officials
were engaged and productive throughout the day.


6. At the end of the afternoon, the assembled officials
agreed by consensus to task the APMF to compile a new draft
law based on the workshop's comments and input. They
established a committee composed of one official each from
Customs, Justice, Transportation, Defense, Police, and
Gendarmerie that would approve the draft in the coming
weeks. Following committee approval, the draft will pass to
the Council of Ministers to be accepted for transmission to
the National Assembly during the next legislative session
starting in May.


7. Comment: APMF had pushed for several months to engage
colleagues from other Ministries with frequent delays, thus
their request for assistance to bring everyone to one table.
The Embassy workshop created momentum to enact legislation
that will allow the GOM to meet its obligations under the
ISPS Code. However, DG Sambalis and other attendees noted
training (ideally by the USCG) as well as financing for some
needed equipment and construction would be required to make
major port security upgrades. End Comment.


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