EASWIO II NEXT STEPS: MADAGASCAR

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 001105

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/RSA JBANDO
PARIS FOR D'ELIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL ECON EWWT MA
SUBJECT: EASWIO II NEXT STEPS: MADAGASCAR

REF: STATE 145423


1. (U) Post response to reftel action request.


2. (SBU) Madagascar sent three personnel to the EASWIO conference
held in Mombasa, Kenya.

a. The delegates stated the following were most beneficial:

- Communications with their other African counterparts;
- Exchange of information;
- U.S. Coast Guard involvement in the SWIO islands;
- Information on ISPS code;
- Presentation on the Maritime Security Center of Excellence;
- Professor Larry McCabe's presentation on anti-terrorism and the
opportunity to discuss his presentation with other countries who
face the same challenges.

b. The delegates shared the following as least beneficial:

- Travel, delegates stated the three days to get to/from Mombasa was
time lost.
- Delegates would like more time to explain their country's maritime
security posture. The 20 minutes allotted was not enough for a
meaningful presentation.

c. The Malagasy participants identified the following priorities for
technical assistance in maritime security and safety:

- More maritime security platforms (boats/planes);
- Training on Maritime Security and basic seamanship;
- Communications to include internet and voice between SWIO
countries;

d. Malagasy officials shared the following as their top
accomplishments:

- Political leaders acknowledge the problems of maritime security;
- Madagascar has written/updated its maritime code;
- Port security has increased as evidenced by improved equipment,
infrastructure and processes in two of the four major ports. The
third major port, Majunga is upgrading security but suffered major
setbacks due to cyclone damage.

e. Top challenges in strengthening maritime security and
safety include:

- Political will has not translated into increased funding for the
Naval and Gendarmerie forces;
- Host nation sponsored training to improve maritime capabilities
are also hampered by lack of funding and lack of personnel with
experience in maritime operations;

d. Comments on format for next Conference:

- Madagascar delegates would prefer that the next SWIO conference be
a multi-agency format.

e. Other comments:

- The delegates stated the conference was very useful in that they
were able to meet their counterparts, exchange email addresses and
begin communicating on a regular basis on maritime issues. This is
an unprecedented outcome of the conference in that we are starting
to see actual direct cooperation (vice through French or U.S.
agencies). To eliminate the travel factor, Post recommends holding
the conference in a country with a capital city/airport in close
proximity to a port so that travel time is minimized. Mauritius
would be an excellent choice in this regard.


3. (U) Two Comoran officials also attended EASWIO II in Mombasa,
Post will report their feedback septel.

MARQUARDT