A PLAN FOR SALVATION: SECOND CWC 2007 ISAG

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 001849 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR KAREN WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL FORTIN STATE FOR WHA/OAS CAROL FULLER STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS RUSH MARBURG STATE PASS TO DS FOR MARK WRIGHTE SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA CARYN HOLLIS SOUTHCOM FOR BILL VANCIO SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DHS FOR BRAD KIDWELL CPB FOR MIKE LOVEJOY AND DAVID DODSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER CASC PINR KCIP KTIA XL SUBJECT: A PLAN FOR SALVATION: SECOND CWC 2007 ISAG MEETING REVIEWS PROGRESS AND CONTINUING GAPS REF: BRIDGETOWN 1315 Classified By: DCM MARY ELLEN T. GILROY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The International Support and Advisory Group (ISAG) for Cricket World Cup 2007 held its second plenary meeting October 11-12 in Bridgetown, Barbados. Participants reviewed progress reports on the Regional Security Plan (RSP) threat assessments, and public HEALTH and safety issues. Despite notable improvement in rationalization and focus of assistance requests, there are still some significant concerns regarding gaps and control issues in the RSP, consular accreditation, and the shrinking timeline to iron out the details for requested support. An "adopt-a-country" option, a result of the security assessment exercise held in Trinidad in September, was introduced but set aside for consideration at a later date. The meeting was generally regarded a success, as it provided clearer insight into ongoing preparations and served to keep up momentum on issues yet to be resolved. Results included agreement on the need for a coordinated media campaign to educate potential visa applicants, and the need to present a united front on the issue of consular accreditation. End Summary. PARTICIPANTS -------------- ¶2. (U) CARICOM for CWC: Jamaica Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips (ISAG Chair),Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Barbados former Senator Phillip Goddard (Science, Technology and International Investment Advisor to Barbados PM Arthur),head of the CARICOM Operations Planning Agency for Crime and Security (COPACS) Col. Tony Anderson, and representatives from the International Cricket Council (ICC),the Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS),the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA),and the Regional Security System (RSS). International Delegations: Canadian High Commissioner Michael Welch, British High Commissioner Duncan Taylor, Australian High Commissioner John Michell (resident in Port of Spain),South African Deputy Police Commissioner Andre Prius, Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma (resident in Paramaribo),Director of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) for the Organization of American States (OAS) Carol Fuller, and representatives from the United Nations Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (UNCTED),the Pan-American HEALTH Organization (PAHO), Interpol, France, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. U.S. Delegates based in Bridgetown: Head of Delegation Deputy Chief of Mission Mary Ellen Gilroy, Consul General Clyde Howard, Regional Security Officer Robert Starnes, Military Liaison Office Commander Patrick (Kofi) Aboagye, Military Liaison Officer Major Curtis Schmucker, Legal Attache Office Chief Sam Bryant, Legal Attache Officer Doug Shipley and Political Officer Shannon E. Runyon (notetaker). Washington and regionally-based Delegates: State WHA/CAR Karen Williams and Michael Fortin, Diplomatic Security Mark Wrighte, SA/SD William Vancio; Customs and Border Protection Assistant Executive Director Michael Lovejoy; U.S. Embassy Kingston Assistant Regional Security Officer Matthew Kirk; and U.S. Embassy Georgetown Regional Security Officer Brandon Lee. ¶3. (U) Barbados Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley opened the second plenary session of the International Support and Advisory Group (ISAG) meeting between Caribbean and international community representatives on October 11 in Bridgetown, Barbados. Mottley noted that while significant progress had been made, there were still substantial deficiencies in preparing for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, and less than six months in which to address them. Highlighting the achievements since the last ISAG meeting in July (reftel),Mottley noted that the CARICOM Operations Planning Agency for Crime and Security (COPACS) was now fully under the leadership of Col. Tony Anderson and had made major strides in preparing and justifying the Regional Security Plan (RSP) and in incorporating the various country security plans in just six weeks. PROGRESS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) A review of progress "to date" showed that COPACS had established a clear planning structure and identified several gaps and control issues regionally and by country, across both HEALTH and security regimes. COPACS has rationalized and revised the previous "wish list" to link equipment and training requests to specific functions within the Regional Security Plan (RSP). It has helped establish national plans that focus on border security and tactical plans focusing on rapid response to a variety of contingencies. Preparations for implementing the USG's Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) and Interpol's Stolen and Lost Travel document (STL) database were also presented and are moving forward according to schedule. ISAG CONCERNS - CONTINUING GAPS -------------- ¶5. (C) In a closed session among the international delegations, concerns were expressed across the board regarding the significant gaps and control issues in the proposed HEALTH and security regimes. ONE such gap is the lack of sufficient bomb detection teams and dogs; a gap it will be difficult to fill given the tight timeline and current country quarantine regulations. Another glaring gap is lack of clarity on Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs), Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs),and logistics for troops and personel provided to enhance security both from within CARICOM and the larger international community. Consular accreditation for the matches, currently denied by the International Cricket Council (ICC),was also identified as an issue that needed to be pushed by the collective. It was noted that the U.K.-supported CARICOM visa regime, planned to be implemented for 109 countries including Australia and New Zealand by the end of November, would not enhance security. ADOPT-A-COUNTRY PLAN -------------- ¶6. (C) South African Deputy Police Commissioner Andre Prius introduced the idea of an "adopt-a-country" option, a result of the security assessment exercise held in Trinidad in September. Under the suggested scheme, countries that have teams playing in CWC 2007 would adopt ONE of the venue countries for the 2-3 week period covering matches in that country as opposed to committing resources for the entire 70 days of the series. The "adopting" country, or countries, would agree to provide all of the necessary security resources to fill the identified gaps for each country during the timeframe when matches are being played in each venue. This division of labor would allow "adopting" countries to make a short-term commitment of a high-level of security resources. It would also eliminate the need for multiple SOFAs and MOUs, since the resources would be deployed to only one country. South Africa and New Zealand representatives favored this program, while others were open to considering the option. The ISAG coordination team pointed out that following this route would not enhance regional capabilities and the discussion was set aside for later resolution. CONCLUSIONS -------------- ¶7. (C) During the final session, the international group had six major points to share with their CARICOM counterparts: a) ISAG praised CARICOM for its work so far regarding visa issues and noted the need for a coordinated media campaign to educate the public about visa requirements and procedures. CARICOM representatives agreed to pursue such a campaign. b) ISAG strongly urged CARICOM to support and develop a formal protocol for accrediting consular officers for CWC. Again, CARICOM agreed that this was desirable, and requested a template upon which to model its protocol after those used either in South Africa for CWC 2003 or Athens for the 2004 Olympics. c) Since the HEALTH issues presentation was the first time any in the international group had been exposed to this aspect of CARICOM preparations, the international group asked to have a matrix of needs and shortcomings to better enable them to determine their ability to assist. The CARICOM side will provide a matrix by October 27. d) ISAG commended the work done by CARICOM to identify real gaps in the technical and training matrices, but questioned the airlift request as a difficult-to-justify "taxi service." CARICOM elected to wait until all ISAG responses to matrix requests were received October 20 to comment. e) ISAG noted the clear rationalization and good use of economies of scale in the matrices and suggested continued discussion regarding details of operations. f) Acknowledging the overall positive attitude toward assistance within the ISAG collective, the group agreed to provide a response to the matrix requests by October 20, suggested the need for ONE or two more formal meetings, and stressed the need for formal written requests for specific assistance. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) In order to maintain momentum on the progress achieved so far, both the CARICOM and international delegates agreed to provide additional information in the short term to facilitate future decisions and discussions. (SBU) ISAG ACTIONS a) Provide "informal" responses to capability matrix requests, as they stand now, positive and negative, by October 20. b) Identify priorities and requirements for troop maintenance, accommodation and protection, should international security personnel be sent to support CWC 2007, also by October 20. ¶9. (SBU) HOST NATION ACTIONS a) Provide formal written requests for specific assistance. b) Supply electronic version of capability matrices, including ONE on the newly introduced Public HEALTH and Safety plan. c) Update Regional Security Plan to identify specific logistical support provided to requested troops. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) The incorporation of responder teams from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago into the Regional Security Plan represents a giant leap forward in the attitude of the CARICOM delegation, echoing DPM Mottley's comments that "the salvation of the region must come from within the region." The plan still contains many gaps and unrealistic expectations but provides a much clearer direction than before. The threat assessment continues to confuse crime with terrorism, perhaps in a bid to garner more financial support through fear. There was little discussion in the October session of the command and control issues of concern to the ISAG at the July meeting. While the timeline is rapidly shrinking and there are still many details to be worked through, the progress made in the past six weeks under the watchful guidance of COPACS head Col. Tony Anderson is encouraging. KRAMER