(U) UK AGREES TO TAKE CHARLES TAYLOR IF CONVICTED

UNCLAS LONDON 004336 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, S/WCI, L E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SUBJECT: (U) UK AGREES TO TAKE CHARLES TAYLOR IF CONVICTED BY SCSL REF: LONDON 4221 (U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (U) Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett announced June 15 that, subject to Parliament passing the necessary legislation, the UK would allow the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, to serve his sentence in the UK should he be convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). This decision responds to a request from UNSYG Kofi Annan. Beckett explained that the decision was driven by two considerations: Taylor's presence in Sierra Leone remains a threat to peace in that region, and the UK is "demonstrating through concrete action" its "commitment to international justice." Beckett stressed that HMG's decision is without prejudice to the eventual location or outcome of the trial: "Taylor's right to a fair trial must be respected." If he were acquitted, the UK would not be required to admit him; if he were convicted and subsequently released after serving his sentence, "the expectation at this stage is that former President Taylor would leave or face removal from the UK." ¶2. (SBU) FCO West Africa Section Head Jason Moore told Poloff this announcement satisfied the Netherlands, which is now prepared to allow Taylor to be tried before the SCSL sitting in The Hague. The Dutch had insisted that some third state agree to allow Taylor to serve his sentence in that state "if convicted and should circumstances require." Moore thought the stalled draft UNSCR could be voted on in New York as early as June 16 and Taylor could be transferred to The Hague within days. ¶3. (SBU) Britain does not yet have domestic legislation authorizing the incarceration of persons convicted abroad by tribunals not established by the UNSC. Moore said Beckett had consulted with Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw (her predecessor at FCO, who manages the legislative calendar),and the prospect is that the necessary legislation will be adopted during the October 2006 - July 2007 parliamentary session. This is ample time, Moore said: the trial will not start for five or six months, and it will take a good two years (including the appeal process if Taylor is convicted). Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Tuttle