Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK1429
2006-07-31 13:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

DANISH PRESENTATION ON BUILDING STATES'

Tags:  PREL PTER UNSC 
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VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1429/01 2121332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311332Z JUL 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9699
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001429 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC
SUBJECT: DANISH PRESENTATION ON BUILDING STATES'
COUNTER-TERRORISM CAPACITY

REF: WILCOX/FITZGERALD EMAIL 7/18/06

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001429

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC
SUBJECT: DANISH PRESENTATION ON BUILDING STATES'
COUNTER-TERRORISM CAPACITY

REF: WILCOX/FITZGERALD EMAIL 7/18/06


1. Summary: At a July 19 meeting hosted by the Danish
Mission to the UN, COWI A/S, an international consulting
firm, and the Fourth Freedom Forum, a U.S. non-governmental
organization, presented a working paper proposing strategies
for counterterrorism capacity building and implementation of
UNSCR 1373 (2001) in poorer nations. The Danish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs commissioned the working paper, which USUN
has emailed separately to IO/PSC (ref). The paper outlines a
strategy for integrating developing assistance, particularly
related to good governance and security sector reform, and
the promotion of implementation of UN Security Council
Resolution 1373 (2001) in developing countries. Participants
included France, China, Argentina, Peru, New Zealand, and
Canada, as well as representatives of the Counter-Terrorism
Committee's Executive Directorate (CTED),the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP),and a staff member of the Center
on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, an offshoot of the
Fourth Freedom Forum. End Summary.


2. In order to assist poor countries most effectively in
implementing UNSCR 1373 (drafted in the wake of 9/11 and
obligating states to take measures against terrorism),the
working paper proposes that donors integrate development
assistance with counterterrorism assistance. The working
paper stresses that good governance, including the promotion
of democracy, checks-and-balances, transparent and
accountable management, and the rule of law, along with
security sector reform, which includes strengthening police,
judiciary, and the military, are the two main aspects of
capacity development. The paper argues that donors must
consider both aspects together in developing assistance
programs.


3. The working paper also proposes a new methodology for
assessing states' counterterrorism capacity needs, building
upon and modifying CTED's current approach to identifying
needs when it visits states. According to a CTC-approved
framework for CTED's state visits, CTED examines the status
of anti-terror legislation, measures against assets used for
criminal purposes (i.e., money-laundering),law enforcement
effectiveness, international cooperation, and

territorial/border control. The working paper argues that
the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and
its CTED should analyze capacity by examining the broad areas
of financial assets controls, effectiveness of law
enforcement services, and territorial control. Within each
of these areas, analysis should focus on the subcategories of
the status of counterterrorism legislation, the level of
national consensus and dialogue, transparency and
accountability, human rights compliance, actual capacity,
international cooperation, and coordination of
counterterrorism efforts via linkages to other programs and
sectors. The CTC can use the information developed from
applying the assessment methodology to create an
individualized strategy for assistance.


4. COWI A/S and the Fourth Freedom Forum have tested their
new methodology through fieldwork in Kenya and Bangladesh.
(Note: CTED visited Kenya in May 2005 and is planning to
visit Bangladesh this fall. End Note.) In both countries,
the two organizations met with all relevant stakeholders,
including government officials and representatives of civil
society. Corruption and impunity are the key obstacles to
successful implementation of UNSCR 1373 in Kenya, they
argued, because citizens' confidence in the justice/security
sector is lower than confidence in other governmental
institutions. Sovereignty concerns present another issue.
Developing states like Kenya or Bangladesh often perceived
terrorism as a problem facing developed states and believe
countering terrorism is the responsibility of developed
states. The presenters argued that the UN and donors need to
address the problem of "perceived bullying" and show that
countering terrorism can benefit developing countries'
populations by enhancing tourism, improving natural resources
management, and other sectors of the economy.


5. To illustrate how development assistance and security
assistance can be coordinated, the presenters cited a
two-year capacity-building program the UNDP is implementing
in Kenya. It aims at improving legislation, strengthening
capacity while remaining respectful of civil liberties and
human rights, enhancing dialogue and national consensus, and
bolstering religious tolerance and respect for cultural
diversity. To accomplish this, UNDP's plan calls for
assistance in legislative finalization, training workshops
for judiciary and security sectors, assistance to the
Financial Investigation Unit, and production and
dissemination of information.




6. During the discussion following the presentation, some
participants expressed skepticism, arguing that attempting to
merge development assistance with counterterrorism assistance
could undermine development priorities. One participant
noted that the Millenium Development Goals do not address
counterterrorism and doubted whether states or even the UN
would deviate from those goals in an effort to enhance their
counterterrorism capacities. Several representatives of
donor states said it would be difficult to adopt a
coordinated approach because of restrictions on
appropriations for development assistance.


7. In response to a question, the presenters clarified that
they were not suggesting that states that do not follow good
government policies should not receive counterterrorism
assistance. In contrast, they said donors should make such
states an assistance priority.


8. Several participants agreed the UN has a key role in
counterterrorism and development assistance. One participant
said the working paper's approach would be more effective if
the UN adopts systematic efforts to streamline
counterterrorism goals into development strategies. If the
UN sets the agenda, donor states will follow the UN's lead,
but without leadership from the UN all efforts will remain ad
hoc and thus less effective. The Danes said the CTC should
define its role in facilitating technical assistance and work
harder and more creatively to approach donors who might be
able to meet countries' needs.


9. Comment: The Danish Mission's presentation dovetailed
well with USUN's call for the UN to coordinate development
assistance and counterterrorism assistance more effectively
and for CTED to enhance its outreach to UNDP to find ways
UNDP can promote states' implementation of resolution 1373.
As the skepticism of many participants showed, however, the
idea of coordinating development and counterterrorism
assistance remains controversial. Positive examples of such
coordination could help alter the debate. End Comment.
BOLTON