Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK1334
2006-07-10 10:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UN COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE HOLDS 167TH MEETING

Tags:  PREL PTER UNSC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1334/01 1911005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101005Z JUL 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9541
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001334 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD AND S/CT:EROSAND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC
SUBJECT: UN COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE HOLDS 167TH MEETING

REF: A. WILCOX/FITZGERALD/ROSAND EMAILS


B. 7/6/06

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001334

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD AND S/CT:EROSAND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC
SUBJECT: UN COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE HOLDS 167TH MEETING

REF: A. WILCOX/FITZGERALD/ROSAND EMAILS


B. 7/6/06


1. Summary: The Security Council's Counter-Terrorism
Committee (CTC) met on July 6 to discuss: 1) feedback from
subcommittees on their use of the Preliminary Implementation
Assessments (PIAs) and the draft Chairman's paper on how the
CTC should use the PIAs to update its working methods, 2)
preliminary conclusions of the Counter-Terrorism Executive
Directorate (CTED) visit to Jordan, 3) preparation for CTED's
visit to Malaysia, and 4) the CTED monthly report, which
surveyed the counterterrorism efforts of Moldova, Ukraine,
and Belarus. The CTC also adopted CTED's report on its trip
to Algeria. End Summary.

--------------
Feedback Regarding PIAs
--------------


2. Commenting on the Chairman's draft proposing new
procedures for the CTC's working methods, particularly the
CTC's use of the PIAs, many delegations had not received
instructions but offered preliminary views. Most delegations
praised the PIA but differed on whether the CTC should share
the PIAs with the relevant member states. The UK proposed
online publication of the PIAs, and Japan proposed sharing
the PIAs with donors. Sharing the PIAs would help states
better understand where their efforts to implement resolution
1373 stand, Japan argued. France acknowledged it had
advocated sharing the PIAs in previous discussions but
offered flexibility, provided the CTC took into account: (1)
the need for transparency to enhance states' confidence and
to facilitate dialogue, and (2) efficiency to permit the CTC
to focus on states experiencing difficulties in implementing
resolution 1373. Greece and Peru expressed similar
flexibility.


3. The Russian Federation and China objected to the sharing
of PIAs in their entirety at any time soon, arguing the CTC
should continue to use letters to conduct its dialogue with
states. Russia said sharing the PIAs could create an
"endless process of assessment." China said sharing the PIAs
would stifle CTED's assessments and could impede cooperation.
France then asked for a better explanation of why sharing
the PIAs would present problems. (Note: USUN said earlier
in the meeting that the CTC should invite views from CTED.)
In her opening and concluding remarks, the Chairman reminded

members that, at its June 8 meeting, the CTC had agreed to
work toward sharing the PIAs with states. The Chair
reiterated that sharing the PIAs with states should be the
ultimate goal.


4. Comment: During the CTC's June 8 meeting, CTED objected
to the proposal to share the PIAs with states as an
alternative to having the CTC send letters containing long
lists of questions and asking states to report back to the
CTC in three months. CTED argued that a requirement to share
the PIAs with states would stifle its ability to make frank
assessments about states' implementation of resolution 1373.
CTED pointed to the "threat assessment" section of the PIA,
saying it would not be appropriate to share that information
with states.


5. Since then, CTED has raised its concerns privately with
USUN and other P-5 missions, to the consternation of the
Danish delegation, which believes CTED should raise its
concerns openly with the CTC. As Chair, the Danes have not
asked CTED to articulate its concerns since doing so at the
June 8 meeting. CTED is concerned that if the PIAs are
shared with states, it will be forced to engage in a
protracted negotiation with states over the contents of its
assessment. CTED also says it would be inefficient to
prepare one PIA for the CTC, containing threat assessment and
other information, and another one without such sensitive
information to share with states. CTED also argues that
sending the PIAs to states, without an explanatory cover
letter, would confuse states, which would not know how to
interpret or act upon the PIAs. Instead, CTED proposes that
the Committee, rather than sending a modified PIA to a state,
should continue to send letters to states. The PIA has
proved to be a useful analysis tool for CTED. CTED proposes
that those letters provide the CTC's assessment of the gaps
states need to fill and request states to report back to the
CTC on their efforts to fill them. As appropriate, the CTC
could request states to submit reports only once a year, as
opposed to every three months.


6. USUN has repeatedly stressed the U.S. desire to break the
CTC's automatic cycle of reporting in favor of a system that
focuses more closely on assessing states' compliance with
resolution 1373, especially of states facing the greatest

difficulty. USUN views the new PIA-based approach the CTC
has adopted as a step in that direction and thinks it is
essential that the CTC communicate its assessment of
implementation efforts clearly to states. USUN thinks the
CTC can communicate information either through a truncated
PIA or another mechanism, such as a letter, as long as that
letter is an assessment and does not become another automatic
request for a report. End comment.

-------------- --------------
CTED in Jordan and Preparation for Malaysia Visit
-------------- --------------


7. CTED briefed the CTC on its visit to Jordan June 18-27,
noting vast operational and legal improvements since the
three hotel bombings in Amman last November. CTED noted
Jordan's request for x-ray and gamma ray machines to secure
its borders and suggested that donors could contribute to a
fund to purchase the equipment.


8. CTED briefed the Committee on its trip to Malaysia July
10-15 and commented positively on Malaysia's efforts to
implement resolution 1373. CTED identified primary areas of
concern as border control, the movement of people, and
maritime security. Greece, France, and the UK voiced human
rights concerns regarding CTED's seemingly positive
assessments of the Internal Security Act (ISA),which
authorizes law enforcement to detain terror suspects
preventively for up to two years without prosecuting them.


9. In other matters, the CTED briefed the CTC on its
conference call with ICAO, the IMO, Interpol, and UNHCR, in
preparation for the CTC's 5th Special Meeting. The meeting
has been tentatively scheduled for February 2007 in Nairobi.

BOLTON