RESPONSE TO FY 2007 PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION

UNCLAS LONDON 000120 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR IO/RHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PHUM SOCI UK SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO FY 2007 PEDOPHILIA CERTIFICATION REF: SECSTATE 198903 ¶1. In response to reftel, a careful review was conducted of the 66 NGOs with consultative status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This list is current as of January 2007. ¶2. In October 2005, ESTOff received a letter from Olga Bosquez, Senior Deputy Director, Sub-Division for External Relations at the IMO. At that time she stated (begin text) "I wish to state that the activities of IMO are exclusively in the sphere of maritime safety and marine pollution. To the best of our knowledge, IMO does not have in its possession any information regarding the views of non-governmental organizations with respect to the condoning, promotion or legalization of paedophilia." (end text) ¶3. Since that communication, the IMO has approved consultative status to three additional NGOs: the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC) in 2005, the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) in 2005, and the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA) in 2006. Regarding FONASBA, that action was taken at IMO's most recent meeting of the Council from November 6-10 2006, attended by Carol Thorn of Embassy London EST staff. Ms.Thorn listened carefully to proceedings, and thoroughly reviewed FONASBA's Application for Consultative Status as well as its complete membership list. ¶4. With regard to ITTC and IBIA, websites were examined to ascertain that neither organization was pro-pedophilia. There is absolutely no indication that any of the NGOS associated with the IMO are pro-pedophilia. Follow-up Mission official is William J. Paton, tel. 44-20-7894-0495; fax 44-20-7409-1637, email PatonWJ@state.gov. ¶5. Post concludes that the IMO does not grant any official status, accreditation or recognition to any organization which promotes and condones or seeks the legalization of pedophilia or has subsidiaries or member organizations that do. ¶6. Total amount of time devoted to compling with request was approximately 4 hours. TUTTLE Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Johnson