ARGENTINA SIGNS SEISMIC MONITORING AGREEMENT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000561 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM MARR TPHY KNNP PREL AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA SIGNS SEISMIC MONITORING AGREEMENT ¶1. (U) Ambassador and Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Garcia Moritan signed an Agreement March 9 concerning the establishment and operation of a Primary Seismic Station at Paso Flores in the Argentine province of Rio Negro. The Agreement updates an existing December 1987 Agreement between the Argentine National Seismic Forecast Institute (INPRES) and the U.S. Geological Survey. The new implementing agency for the U.S. is the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC). ¶2. (U) The operation of the Paso Flores station is in support of the International Monitoring System (IMS),which is under development by signatories to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The IMS eventually will consist of 321 monitoring stations around the world. Paso Flores is one of 50 Primary Seismic Stations in the IMS. Argentina also has 7 additional IMS stations throughout the country applying additional detection technologies. IMS stations are located in 12 other countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States. ¶3. (U) Under the terms of the Agreement, the U.S. will provide technical expertise, equipment, some maintenance and support to the Paso Flores station. Argentina will operate and maintain the station and provide most services. ¶4. (U) The GOA must submit the Agreement to its Congress for ratification. Congressional approval is required because of Article XI in the Agreement, which requests privileges and immunities for U.S. military and civilian personnel at Paso Flores equivalent to Administrative and Technical Status under the 1961 Vienna Convention. (U.S. Congressional approval is not required.) ¶5. (U) Post is sending the signed English and Spanish copies of the Agreement to Acting Argentina Desk Officer Ian Sheridan, WHA/BSC. GUTIERREZ