NOVEMBER US-EU COTER MEETING ENHANCES DISCUSSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 003114

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

S/CT FOR PALMER, ANKARA FOR HAYDEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017
TAGS: PTER PREL EUN PO
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER US-EU COTER MEETING ENHANCES DISCUSSION
AND COOPERATION


Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, U.S. Embassy Lisbon
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: U.S. and EU counterterrorism (CT) experts
shared their assessments, concerns, and cooperation agendas
at the November 29 working group meeting on terrorism
(COTER). In response to the U.S. briefing on the
Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TS/CTP),the
Portuguese presidency requested that the U.S. brief the full
EU COTER December 4 and agreed to instruct Missions to
coordinate with U.S. Embassies in the nine TS/CTP countries
on capacity building and Countering Violent Extremism
programs. The U.S. urged support for the Government of
Pakistan's three-pronged (political, economic and security)
program in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of
the Afghan/Pakistan frontier as crucial to eliminate that key
terrorist safehaven. The United States also urged more
European action against the PKK, and particularly PKK
criminal activities, emphasizing its impact on regional
stability. The U.S. delegation offered updates on the
results of the G-8 meeting in Lyon and the USG conference on
radicalization. The Portuguese presidency discussed the
highlights of its COTER leadership and plans to expand
discussions between COTER, NGOs and North African partners.
The next US-EU COTER meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2008 in
Brussels. End Summary.

THE THREAT
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2. (C) The U.S. and EU's terrorism assessments both noted
increased senior al-Qaida leadership mobility and aggregation
of regional terrorist networks. S/CT Deputy Coordinator
Virginia Palmer underscored U.S. efforts to disaggregate
Al-Qaida's network using all elements of national power, not
just military and law enforcement tools. Asked where such
efforts were bearing fruit, Palmer cited the effect of
Operation Balikatan in the Southern Philippines and
emphasized that capture/kill operations only "bought time"
for development, rule of law programs and other programs to
address the conditions that terrorists exploit, the key
battle in the war on terror. Abigail Shields from the EU
Council Situation Center for Terrorism stated that, in
addition to the external terrorist threat, the EU was focused
on home-grown terrorism originating from radicals born and/or
raised in Europe. Radicalization of these individuals was
increasing in mosques, prisons, schools, and through the
wider use of the internet, but, Shields admitted, how the
radicalization process really operates remains unclear.


INTERNATIONAL CT EFFORTS (COTER, G-8, UN)
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3. (SBU) Portuguese COTER Chair Helena Paiva and incoming
Slovenian Chair Andrej Slapnicar reported on efforts to
broaden COTER's dialogue with other nations and civil
society. Under Portuguese leadership, COTER held meetings
with three NGOs, the Algiers Regional Counterterrorism Center
(CAERT),and the Algerian government as part of the
Portuguese focus on North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Paiva also mentioned a possible joint EU-OIC project. Paiva
underscored the EU's strong support for the UN as the global
forum on counterterrorism and praised the recent U.S.
statement before the UN's 6th Committee.


4. (SBU) S/CT's Roopa Rangaswamy summarized the results of
the November G-8 Lyon Roma meeting, which discussed
initiatives to counter the threat posed by bulk cash
smuggling; radicalization; critical infrastructure
protection; and plans for development of a G-8 economic plan
for the FATA. She mentioned that the U.S. had pledged nearly
$500,000 to the UN Counterterrorism Implementation Task Force
(CTITF) for projects on radicalization and protection of
vulnerable targets and hoped that the outcomes of all of the
CTITF working groups would lead to a productive review of the
UN Strategy.

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CAPACITY BUILDING, TS/CTP, FATA, EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD
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5. (C) Portugal's Special Representative for CT issues
Joaquim Moreira de Lemos expounded on the EU's
counterterrorism technical assistance to Morocco and Algeria.
He admitted that past attempts to coordinate had been
unsuccessful, partially due to the EU's decision-making
structures. The European Commission set aside 2 million euros
for 2008 to expand cooperation with the Moroccans and
Algerians. Lemos confided that the Troika with Pakistan had
clearly been a wasted effort. The French EU Presidency aimed
to establish a new CT troika with Egypt in 2008. The
European Commission's Efthymios Costopoulos said the EU
included CT components in its stability promotion and
European Neighborhood programs. He claimed that it was a
difficult balance, especially given the European court ruling
against using development monies for CT efforts in a recent
case regarding aid to the Philippines. Palmer expressed
concern that such limitations could force governments to
tailor programs to fit pots of funds rather than address real
threats.


6. (C) Palmer explained that in a recent Regional Strategy
Initiative meeting, U.S. Ambassadors in the Maghreb and
Sahara regions had recommended closer cooperation on CT and
CVE programs with European partners. Palmer briefed the
group on the U.S.'s comprehensive $157 million military,
governance, development and public diplomacy program Trans
Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership (TS/CTP) and requested
that EU Missions be instructed to meet with U.S. counterparts
in the nine TS/CTP countries to compare notes and identify
gaps to facilitate further cooperation and that results of
those discussions be discussed at the next US-EU COTER
consultations. A representative of Portugal's intelligence
service asked if the U.S. believed exchange programs for
religious leaders in that region were useful. Palmer and
EEB's Steve Bondy replied that they were indeed and that
exchanges including representatives from more than one nation
also facilitated regional networking. Paiva invited a U.S.
delegation to participate in the December 4 COTER meeting to
discuss the Trans-Sahara policy in further
detail in order to advance U.S.-EU cooperation.

RADICALIZATION AND RECRUITMENT
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7. (C) New EU Counterterrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove
reported that the EU was divided on internet related
terrorism. The EU would like to develop best practices, and
is considering how to approach surveillance of websites, an
initiative of Germany's EU presidency. The UK is discussing
shutting-down websites with internet service providers.
Paiva mentioned the EU's interest in the creation of a
network of moderate voices (project proposals are being
accepted for future funding). Palmer described U.S. efforts,
including the creating of the Counterterrorism Communications
Center and USG bloggers who post entries in Arabic and FARSI
to clarify U.S. policy and denounce extremism. She noted the
importance and difficulty of empowering credible voices
without tainting their organizations and messages.


8. (C) USEU NAS Counselor James McAnulty reported on the
State Department-sponsored workshop on radicalization.
Attendees discussed key factors that lead to radicalization.
He suggested holding a second conference, perhaps with
broader participation, to continue the discussions and plans
for outreach. De Kerchove mentioned that the EU would revisit
and likely update its radicalization policy in 2008.

PKK
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9. (C) Responding to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK)
threat would help stabilize Iraq's northern border and

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reassure Turkey, Palmer said. Ankara's Resident Legal
Adviser Suzanne Hayden recounted U.S. efforts to tackle
"indirect terrorism," such as financial assistance, that
supported the PKK and other groups. She outlined a proposed
Roundtable discussion to be hosted by U.S. DOJ for EU
partners and Turkey to discuss extradition details on high
level targets. Hayden stressed the need for Member State
support of the Roundtable and enhanced cooperation in
combating indirect and direct terrorism. De Kerchove offered
to continue consultations with the DOJ, especially on
financial security in Northern Iraq.

QODS FORCE
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10. (C) In response to the EU's inquiry regarding the U.S.
designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods
Force, Rangaswamy explained that the designation addressed
the Qods Force's provision of material support to the Taliban
and other terrorist groups. She stressed that the Qods Force
was not designated for the conduct of terrorist activities
and noted that U.S. designation authorities allow for the
designation of groups on a variety of grounds, including the
provision of material support. Paiva expressed concern that
this designation undermined the position that states acting
in their official capacity do not engage in terrorism. She
worried that the U.S. designation could negatively impact the
CCIT discussions and could be exploited by the Non-Aligned
Movement.

Next Steps
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11. (C) Slovenia reported that during its chairmanship of the
COTER, it intends to continue much of the Portuguese agenda
including the Portuguese emphasis on implementation of the UN
Global Counterterrorism Strategy. The Western Balkans will
be the geographic focus. Slapnicar announced Slovenia's
intention to address the potential terrorist threat of
Islamic extremism related to Bosnia and Kosovo and
radicalization and recruitment issues in the region. In
addition, Slovenia hopes to hold a EUROMED meeting on
terrorism.


12. (U) Participants:

U.S.
Virginia Palmer, Deputy Coordinator, S/CT
Roopa Rangaswamy, Director, Office of Trans-Regional Affairs,
S/CT
Steve Bondy, Director, Office of Terrorism Finance and
Sanctions, EEB/ESC/TFS
Peggy Walker, EUR/ERA
Suzanne Hayden, Embassy Ankara
Jim McNulty, USEU
Mary Lee Warren, USEU
Paul Fitzgerald, USEU
Jackie Bednarz, USEU
Dana Brown, notetaker

EU
Joaquim Moreira de Lemos, Chair, EU Presidency Special Rep
for CT
Helena Alexandra de Paiva, EU Presidency COTER Chair, MFA
Efthymios Costopoulos, European Commission, DG RELEX
Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator
Elisabetta Pietrobon, Council Secretariat
Abigal Shields, EU Situation Center
Andrej Slapnicar, COTER Chair, Security Policy Department,
Slovenian MFA
Stephenson