ARGENTINA SUPPORTS USG POSITION ON IMSO, IN

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001148 SIPDIS SIPDIS EB/CIP FOR RICHARD H. LAMB AND DOUGLAS C. MAY USCG FOR JOSEPH HERSEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ETRD TSPL KCIP KSCA KSTC EINT ETTC IMO EWWT, PTER, AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA SUPPORTS USG POSITION ON IMSO, IN PRINCIPLE REF: SECSTATE 76345 ¶1. Econoff presented reftel talking points to Maritime Affairs Counselor Ariel Gonzalez of the Foreign Ministry's Office of Legal Counsel on May 18. Gonzalez responded that the GOA agrees, in principle, with the positions the USG is supporting in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Security Committee meeting. He said that the GOA favors expansion of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and is interested in finalizing the development of the Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system. Gonzalez said the GOA has concerns on GMDSS and LRIT and will be closely evaluating the specific proposals regarding further implementation of both programs. ¶2. Gonzalez said that, although Argentina's delegation to the IMO supports efforts to make the GMDSS more economically efficient and technologically robust, the GOA is interested in maintaining an important role for government oversight. Gonzalez observed that the IMO resolution pertaining to the current GMDSS system would probably be amended if member-states generally supported the participation of additional Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) system operators. He added that the GOA would have a keen interest in the provisions on government oversight that would be included in an amended resolution. ¶3. Argentina's delegation to the IMO would like more information on the LRIT before providing its full support, according to Gonzalez. He said that the delegation was preparing to request an analysis on the consistency of the LRIT with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Gonzalez stated that an explicit case outlining the LRIT's conformity with the Law of the Sea would facilitate the GOA's support for finalizing the program's development. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. Gonzalez apologized to Econoff for not responding sooner to post's request for a meeting. He said that the majority of the staff in the Office of Legal Counsel has been working on Argentina's case regarding Uruguayan paper mills opposite Gualeguaychu in Entre Rios. Gonzalez said he had forwarded the talking points to Argentina's IMO delegation. ¶5. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> GUTIERREZ