Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06WELLINGTON714
2006-09-10 21:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Wellington
Cable title:
NZ FAVORS USG CONSULTATIONS ON RECAAP PIRACY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL #0714 2532119 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 102119Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3251 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0060 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 4532 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 0061 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0046 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0141 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0281 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0107 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0608 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0433
C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000714
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/ANP, EB/TRA/OTP, OES/OA, AND L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2011
TAGS: EWWT IN KCRM KTIA MY PBTS PHSA PREL SNAR UK
NZ
SUBJECT: NZ FAVORS USG CONSULTATIONS ON RECAAP PIRACY
AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 135670
Classified By: DCM David J. Keegan,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000714
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/ANP, EB/TRA/OTP, OES/OA, AND L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2011
TAGS: EWWT IN KCRM KTIA MY PBTS PHSA PREL SNAR UK
NZ
SUBJECT: NZ FAVORS USG CONSULTATIONS ON RECAAP PIRACY
AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 135670
Classified By: DCM David J. Keegan,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PE Couns discussed GNZ views on the Regional
Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery
against ships in Asia (ReCAAP) with Michael Swain, Deputy
Director of the Security Policy Division at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Despite reftel observation
that Singapore prefers "smaller user states" be the first to
join existing parties to the agreement, Swain said that GNZ
has been only "gently lobbied" by Tokyo and Singapore to
consider joining ReCAAP.
2. (C) According to Swain, GNZ is still evaluating what it
would gain from becoming a party to ReCAAP. About half of NZ
trade moves through the Malaccas, but although small numbers
of NZ yachts move through the region New Zealand has no
international shipping industry that could be affected by
piracy. Swain said that because of limited government
resources, New Zealand tends to be discriminatory about which
treaties it will sign. There are a number of questions GNZ
officials have about ReCAAP, the most significant being
whether the agreement is filling any gaps in the
international system. The officials also wonder about the
costs and benefits for various GNZ agencies of adhering to
the agreement. Swain said GNZ is in addition concerned that
New Zealand not be inadvertently drawn into inter-regional
rivalries, "given that there is a glaring line-up of ReCAAP
parties who have not yet signed or ratified the agreement."
Swain indicated GNZ is most wary of disagreements between
China, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as tensions between
Japan and China.
3. (C) Working level GNZ officials are just beginning to
grapple with the various questions surrounding ReCAAP. They
have begun interagency discussions and have asked some NZ
diplomats abroad for their views. Swain confided the
officials are not operating with any urgency as neither
Singapore nor other ReCAAP signatories have strongly
encouraged New Zealand to join the agreement. Swain said
that NZ officials would be very interested in discussing
ReCAAP issues with Washington once GNZ's internal review has
progressed a bit farther. He anticipates that within the
next few weeks MFAT will instruct the NZ Embassy in
Washington to seek consultations with relevant USG agencies.
McCormick
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/ANP, EB/TRA/OTP, OES/OA, AND L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2011
TAGS: EWWT IN KCRM KTIA MY PBTS PHSA PREL SNAR UK
NZ
SUBJECT: NZ FAVORS USG CONSULTATIONS ON RECAAP PIRACY
AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 135670
Classified By: DCM David J. Keegan,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PE Couns discussed GNZ views on the Regional
Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery
against ships in Asia (ReCAAP) with Michael Swain, Deputy
Director of the Security Policy Division at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Despite reftel observation
that Singapore prefers "smaller user states" be the first to
join existing parties to the agreement, Swain said that GNZ
has been only "gently lobbied" by Tokyo and Singapore to
consider joining ReCAAP.
2. (C) According to Swain, GNZ is still evaluating what it
would gain from becoming a party to ReCAAP. About half of NZ
trade moves through the Malaccas, but although small numbers
of NZ yachts move through the region New Zealand has no
international shipping industry that could be affected by
piracy. Swain said that because of limited government
resources, New Zealand tends to be discriminatory about which
treaties it will sign. There are a number of questions GNZ
officials have about ReCAAP, the most significant being
whether the agreement is filling any gaps in the
international system. The officials also wonder about the
costs and benefits for various GNZ agencies of adhering to
the agreement. Swain said GNZ is in addition concerned that
New Zealand not be inadvertently drawn into inter-regional
rivalries, "given that there is a glaring line-up of ReCAAP
parties who have not yet signed or ratified the agreement."
Swain indicated GNZ is most wary of disagreements between
China, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as tensions between
Japan and China.
3. (C) Working level GNZ officials are just beginning to
grapple with the various questions surrounding ReCAAP. They
have begun interagency discussions and have asked some NZ
diplomats abroad for their views. Swain confided the
officials are not operating with any urgency as neither
Singapore nor other ReCAAP signatories have strongly
encouraged New Zealand to join the agreement. Swain said
that NZ officials would be very interested in discussing
ReCAAP issues with Washington once GNZ's internal review has
progressed a bit farther. He anticipates that within the
next few weeks MFAT will instruct the NZ Embassy in
Washington to seek consultations with relevant USG agencies.
McCormick