REPORT OF SECOND G-8 LYON-ROMA MEETING OF GERMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 BERLIN 000806 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NSC ELIZABETH FARR AND STEVE NEWHOUSE DOJ FOR DAG SWARTZ STATE FOR E, P, EEB UNVIE FOR HOWARD SOLOMON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KJUS OTRA PTER SNAR UNGA GM AF SUBJECT: REPORT OF SECOND G-8 LYON-ROMA MEETING OF GERMAN PRESIDENCY: APRIL 16-19, 2007 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The second meeting of the G-8 Lyon-Roma Anti-Crime and Terrorism Group (LR/ACT) under the German Presidency was held in Berlin from April 16-19, 2007. The U.S. delegation was co-chaired by INL DAS Elizabeth Verville and S/CT Deputy Coordinator Virginia Palmer and included representatives from the Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center. Highlights include: - Agreement on U.S. initiative to pursue specific projects to inhibit illicit cash smuggling; - Circulation by the U.S. of a revised draft of the German Counterterrorism Summit Statement, and brief presentation of substantive additions that U.S. FASS tabled in Bonn; - Agreement to U.S.-drafted G-8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Declaration on Combating Child Pornography; - Discussion of further actions to promote substantive progress on the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and UN Transnational Organized Crime Convention implementation; including designating asset recovery experts to consider how best to implement UNCAC asset recovery articles. END SUMMARY. Cash Courier Initiative -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Lyon-Roma Heads approved the revised U.S. paper on inhibiting illicit cash smuggling and observed that the revised draft had addressed the concerns raised at the February meeting. Canada and Japan continued to stress the importance of ensuring that the cash courier initiative projects not overlap with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) activities. The UK noted that the initiative also could produce intelligence on terrorist networks and terror financing routes. Germany, which had expressed opposition to the initiative in February, endorsed the U.S. proposal, but noted that it would provide specific comments in the coming days. The U.S. agreed to develop project proposals that would avoid duplication with FATF work and encouraged other partners to do so as well. G-8 Summit Statement on Counterterrorism -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The U.S. noted the importance of having a concrete statement which mentions specific G-8 commitments to inhibit bulk cash smuggling, promote economic recovery i the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region, preventWMD proliferation financing, and enhance the secrity of critical energy infrastructure. The U.S circulated a revised text including these elements and mentioned that the U.S. Foreign Affairs Sos Sherpa (FASS) would be tabling the document for discussion at the April 16-17 FASS meeting. The K and Canada provided language on radicalizationand recruitment of terrorists for inclusion in the statement. Japan and Canada asked that the statement include a categorical rejection of terrorism and expressed reservations about the inclusion of language that directly connected economic stability/prosperity with counterterrorism activities. Another draft report will be circulated by the Presidency after input on the results of the FASS discussions in Bonn. Summit Report on G-8 Efforts to Strengthen the UN,s Counterterrorism Activities -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Heads approved in principle a draft summit report on Efforts to Strengthen the UN,s CT Activities and agreed to submit additional written comments by May 4 for inclusion in a revised draft the Presidency will circulate. Heads also discussed an Italian draft non-paper on ways to facilitate BERLIN 00000806 002 OF 006 the UN CTC/CTED,s delivery of technical assistance and agreed to provide additional comments by May 4. After the paper is revised, Germany will host a meeting in New York to discuss how the paper might be used, ideally as the basis for a discussion in New York with CTC and CTED. JHA Ministerial Declaration on Combating Child Pornography -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The U.S. finalized and obtained Heads, agreement on its JHA Ministerial Declaration outlining the serious nature of the problem of child pornography and the need for strong action to enforce the international legal framework against it. The U.S. Delegation addressed the concerns of Japan, UK, Russia, and Canada in order to successfully reach agreement on the declaration. Terrorist Use of the Internet -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Heads approved a collection of G-8 national practices related to preventing terrorist use of the Internet to be included as a deliverable for the JHA Ministerial. The U.S. succeeded in narrowing the scope of the project by revising the project from a best practices document to an "analysis of national practices;" Germany, France, and Russia pushed for follow-on work. The U.S. resisted, but ultimately agreed to consider further steps after examining specific project proposals that may be put forward. Implementation of UNSCR 1624 -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Partners supported the UK effort to develop a paper that described the various G-8 national approaches to implementation of UNSCR 1624. The UK acknowledged the sensitivities related to this issue and stressed that the paper is a compilation and a tool to assist states in enhancing implementation. The UK proposed that G-8 UN missions in New York coordinate on an approach to the UN CTC to share the final paper as a UK non-paper in informal discussions with CTED and CTC. Germany asked that all comments on the UK draft paper be submitted by May 18. Radicalization and Recruitment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Heads approved the UK,s proposal to identify, analyze, assess and catalogue deradicalization interventions from third countries at a seminar to be held in the fall in London. The UK expects to invite 50 participants to the seminar and asked for recommendations on which third countries should be invited. The UK proposes to invite presentations by Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan. The U.S. previously suggested inviting Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Morocco, and Algeria. All G-8 Partners could participate in the seminar. A report on the seminar would be provided to the CT Practitioners Group and Heads. There were sensitivities expressed in the subgroups about countries to be invited and all agreed to consult prior to the event. UN Related Efforts to Combat Organized Crime -------------- ¶9. (SBU) CND: The U.S. provided a brief update to efforts made in the 50th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The U.S. noted the four resolutions adopted at the CND aimed at preventing the diversion of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs. Also, the U.S. requested close-consultations with G-8 member states to coordinate any future recommendations on the rescheduling of substances to the World Health Organization. Lastly, the U.S. expressed appreciation for the attention that was given to Afghanistan BERLIN 00000806 003 OF 006 at the CND. ¶10. (SBU) Crime Commission: The U.S. previewed four focal points for the upcoming UN Crime Commission meetings in Vienna. First, the U.S. reiterated the importance of work done to combat child sexual exploitation and urged support for a resolution it was putting forward. Second, the U.S. noted it will call attention to the problem that gangs have caused in the U.S. and Western Hemisphere, and highlight what the U.S. is doing domestically and internationally to combat the problem. Third, the U.S. stressed the importance of Indonesia and Brazil working together to come to a consensus on the illegal logging resolution. Last, the U.S. raised the importance of governance and the need for the G-8 to work together to overcome budgetary issues. ¶11. (SBU) UNCAC: The U.S. reiterated the need for G-8 members' outreach to ten other governments to encourage them to respond in a timely manner to the UN Convention Against Corruption self-assessment checklist and offer to provide assistance in this regard. The U.S. welcomed France,s willingness to engage UNCAC parties and signatories, particularly those in Africa. The UK noted it was still deliberating on its ten countries, but that it was funding a three-year program through the Commonwealth to fulfill UNCAC. Canada said that it was in the process of finalizing its ten countries. Germany expressed an intent to reach out to EU Member States. Japan, Italy, and Russia raised concerns with reaching out to others as they have not "ratified" the Convention. ¶12. (SBU) The U.S. also attempted to reinvigorate the G-8 asset recovery initiative and Lyon-Roma attention to this issue. The U.S. identified the various substantive areas in which Lyon-Roma could implement UNCAC asset recovery articles, such as increasing enhanced scrutiny, educating countries on mutual legal assistance, and developing legislative or regulatory tools to confiscate and return assets. The U.S suggested holding an asset recovery meeting prior to the scheduled meeting(s) of the Corruption Convention Conference of State Parties (COSP) Working Group on asset recovery in August. Germany supported the idea and proposed an exchange of asset recovery points of contact to allow experts to communicate prior to the COSP meeting. The U.S. offered to take the lead in arranging contacts once contact points are named. Germany proposed a follow-up asset recovery ad hoc meeting in November, if any follow-on was required. New Projects -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Russia introduced a proposal on the sharing of counternarcotics law enforcement training experiences and information. The U.S., UK, Germany, and Japan all agreed in concept, but requested more time to make further refinements to the proposal. ¶14. (SBU) Japan introduced a proposal for the Migration Experts Subgroup (MESG) to do a best practices paper for ensuring that airlines comply with their duty to ascertain that passengers have the proper documents before boarding airplanes. The U.S. expressed its full-support, but, at the request of the UK and Germany, it was sent to the Transportation Security Subgroup (TSSG) for further review. ¶15. (SBU) France proposed a project on traffic recovery after a chemical/biological/radiological attack. Heads postponed review of the project to provide the Transport Security Subgroup a chance to review and approve the project. Most partners expressed support for the concept. JHA Ministerial Deliverables BERLIN 00000806 004 OF 006 -------------- ¶16. (SBU) The U.S. presented a comprehensive report for presentation to the JHA Ministers on the 2004 Asset Recovery Initiative. The 2004 initiative encompassed many different projects, some of which were undertaken by Heads and others by the Criminal Legal Affairs Subgroup. The report to Ministers summarizes all work that has been done on this initiative and also serves as a platform on which to deliver the various papers Lyon-Roma asset recovery experts have developed. The U.S. will provide the final of the Report and recommendations on release of papers to Germany to circulate for final Heads approval. Afghanistan Ad Hoc Experts Meeting -------------- ¶17. (SBU) The ad hoc meeting on Afghanistan experts met on April 16 to discuss recent developments on counter-narcotics. Despite the potential increase from last year,s record harvest, the UK argued there was significant progress in the North and other regions, attributing these successes to the presence of governance, stable security and access to alternative livelihoods. The U.S. supported this assessment, arguing for a balanced approach that included incentives like the Good Performance Initiative as well as disincentives, such as targeted eradication. The U.S. and the UK emphasized the growing nexus between narcotics and terrorism in Afghanistan and urged adoption of ideas in the March 2007 resolution on Afghanistan. G-8 countries appeared amenable to this with the exception of Italy. The U.S. urged greater attention to the increasing use of Africa as a point of transshipment for Afghan heroin, pointing to reports from the UNODC, International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Pakistani law enforcement, and media reports. A number of delegations highlighted the importance of encouraging producer and transit countries to remain focused on precursor chemicals for heroin, working with INCB and UNODC to strengthen border controls and prevent diversion and smuggling. G-8 Prisons Ad Hoc Experts Meeting -------------- ¶18. (SBU) The U.S. chaired an experts meeting on April 16 to help develop next steps related to the G-8 Project on Terrorist Recruitment in Prisons. The G-8 produced a beneficial practices document by incorporating survey responses and the discussions of the April 2006 experts meeting. Most partners expressed support for the experts meetings as a means for exchanging information. Partners agreed to maintain an on-going dialogue outside the context of Lyon-Roma meetings. Aviation Security Ad Hoc Experts Meeting -------------- ¶19. (SBU) Experts from three subgroups -- TSSG, Law Enforcement Projects Subgroup (LEPSG) and CT Practitioners -- met to discuss future threats to aviation security. There was universal agreement that targeting of aviation remains a key strategic goal for terrorists, despite the availability of softer, more accessible targets. Specifically, experts noted common concerns over the potential use of high impact devices such as IEDs, Vehicle Borne IEDs, MANPADS, liquids and gels explosives, weapons of mass destruction, and low-tech devices such as shoes, cell phones and other concealed or disguised objects. The threat posed by insiders, suicide bombers, and stowaways was mentioned repeatedly. There is broad agreement that cargo and small aircraft have associated vulnerabilities that need further exploration. Also discussed was the possibility of innovations in explosives, concealment measures, BERLIN 00000806 005 OF 006 cyber-terrorism, model aircraft, and unmanned airborne vehicles. The discussions will form the basis of important work for current and future G-8 projects. Critical Infrastructure Protection Ad Hoc Meeting -------------- -------------- ¶20. (SBU) LEPSG and CT Practitioners subgroups reported that the three U.S./Russia led critical energy infrastructure protection projects would be completed by November. The threat assessment project will be combined with an existing CT Practitioners project to compile analytical assessments of terrorist threat to oil and gas infrastructure. Subgroups -------------- ¶21. (SBU) The Criminal Legal Affairs Subgroup focused on two deliverables for the JHA Ministerial which will form the basis for discussion for Ministers in Munich. First, the group completed work on several papers that are the final aspects of the 2004 Asset Recovery Initiative. Also, the group completed a paper collecting G-8 experience implementing laws establishing extraterritorial jurisdiction over sex crimes against children committed by their nationals -- so-called "child sex tourism." All of these projects were led by the U.S. and the completed papers, once public, will be of use in U.S. work on corruption and child sexual exploitation issues in other multilateral fora. The group also participated in a nine-way videoconference organized by Canada among authorities responsible for extradition and mutual legal assistance in the G-8 states and with Eurojust. ¶22. (SBU) The Migration Experts Subgroup focused on the terrorist expulsion project. The group exchanged domestic legal authorities and discussed a draft of a findings document summarizing the Member States, submission. This stocktaking will be a deliverable for the JHA Ministerial. The group also prepared for the next joint interdiction exercise by exchanging intelligence about fraud including the targeted documents. Finally, the group had a presentation from Interpol on its Human Smuggling and Trafficking messaging database. ¶23. (SBU) The Law Enforcement Projects Subgroup (LEPSG) considered three counter-narcotics projects. The first is a Russian proposal on training of narcotics investigators. It will undergo revision and be re-circulated by June 1. The second is a German project on synthetic drugs which was concluded. Germany will circulate a report for approval and submission as a ministerial deliverable. The third is the U.S. project on rogue Internet pharmacies that reviewed the results of our questionnaire. Draft best practices will be circulated prior to the next meeting. The group also reviewed several law enforcement projects. In the area of DNA, the existing project will be advanced through an experts' meeting to be hosted by the U.S. in June, with the objective of finalizing the project and having a G-8 search request network operational by the November meeting. The Italian draft proposal for an additional DNA project will be evaluated at the experts' meeting. The U.S. reported on the prison radicalization experts' meeting, and LEPSG endorsed the conclusion that interested G-8 experts would continue to collaborate, outside the context of the G-8, and report back at the second Lyon-Roma meeting in 2008. ¶24. (SBU) The High-Tech Crime Subgroup discussions included: Critical information infrastructure protection; law enforcement issues arising from Internet telephony; criminal exploitation of the Internet domain name system; criminal use of online virtual payment services; terrorist use of the Internet; and the spread of malicious software and BOT-networks. The Chair reported on an important Council of BERLIN 00000806 006 OF 006 Europe Cybercrime Conference and 24/7 Network workshop to be held 11-12 June in Strasbourg, at which the Subgroup will be represented. ¶25. (SBU) The Transportation Security Subgroup agreed to complete surveys by May 31 for two projects led by the U.S. related to explosives detection technology research and development and the use of behavior observation techniques in the aviation environment. Canada furthered two projects on security management systems and transportation security clearances. Canada and Japan reviewed their joint project to establish best practices in auditing the security of port facilities. The UK and U.S. offered suggestions on how to enhance the survey and end product that were approved. The deadline for comments on the joint project draft survey was extended to May 15 and for completed surveys to July 31. The chair announced that a random test of the G-8 aviation security point-of-contact network will be launched in the coming weeks. ¶26. (SBU) The German chair of the Counterterrorism Practitioners Subgroup (CTPSG) requested an additional four weeks to review U.S. revisions made to a joint analytic assessment on terrorist safe havens, which Germany will recirculate to all G-8 partners for review and approval by the November meetings, after which it will be provided to the Heads of Delegation for their use within the Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG). The assessment focuses currently on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border areas, Yemen the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel and Maghreb. The CTPSG completed its joint interim threat assessment that primarily focused on the threat of al-Qa,ida and plans to review the compilation of G-8 partners, measures taken to counter terrorists, misuse of broadcasters in the next few weeks. In addition, Germany made a presentation on the suitcase bombs which were found on German regional trains in July 2006; Italy presented on investigations which led to the dismantlement of a left-wing terrorist group; and the U.S. presented on the role and responsibilities of the National Counterterrorism Center. The U.S. announced at the Heads meeting it will host the third annual International G-8 Conference on Kidnappings, to be held in conjunction with the ad-hoc hostage negotiators conference being held in September. S/CT will fund the conference. TIMKEN JR