GOC RESPONSE RE 2008 US-CANADA BILATERAL

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001954 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL CA SUBJECT: GOC RESPONSE RE 2008 US-CANADA BILATERAL CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETING REF: STATE 133852 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel demarche regarding the upcoming Bilateral Consultative Group (BCG) meeting in Washington, Deputy Director for Counterterrorism Yves Beaulieu and Policy Advisor Neil Brennan from the International Crime and Terrorism Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade made suggestions and comments on our agenda (see paras 2 and 3). In general, the GOC is in agreement with our list of topics, however. The GOC team would nonetheless like to know what general priorities General Dailey sees for the relationship, but added that it is still too early to assign leads in the various areas. Also, the GOC team wants a meeting that is not too mechanical in flow -- e.g. lead, response, on to the next item -- and would like it to be more open in terms of discussion and a flow of ideas, with the option of hovering on an item if it deserves more attention. ¶2. (SBU) January 16 -- Most GOC participants will fly to Washington on the evening of 16 January. Senior Coordinator for International Crime and Terrorism Mark Moher will come down either the evening of the 15th or the morning of the 16th. Moher 4 will be available for a heads of delegation meeting on the afternoon of the 16th. (Note: Beaulieu was not sure if this will be the first time that General Dailey and Moher will meet; they may also meet on the margins of the G-8 meeting in Berlin November 5-8. If it is the first time, Moher would be available for lunch, if we are so inclined. End note); -- The GOC team likes the idea of doing a focused threat briefing (primarily who and what) on the afternoon of January 16 to allow for a more frank and detailed discussion, in contrast to last year; -- The GOC team agrees to a final discussion of the text of the Joint Declaration and promised to convey its views soon. The team is still not sure of the level of signing of the Joint Declaration on the Canadian side but continues to see this document as a deliverable for the BCG; -- Beaulieu suggested for the pre-meeting a quick review of the outstanding proposals from the last meeting, and raised the issue of a brief discussion of key regional issues such as Iran in this small venue before the larger group convenes. ¶3. (SBU) January 17 -- The GOC proposes the following for the meeting flow: a. Principals present policy implications of the earlier threat assessment (modification of our #1); b. Outstanding Issues (our #2): * Beaulieu said we need to go over these and see where they stand. He could only remember the invitation to participate in US training courses (e.g. FSI),but noted that this did not pan out; * GOC team would like to be realistic about accomplishments and our level of cooperation and to avoid only considering this list when it is time for the next BCG; if that is what we have done, the team would welcome a discussion of how better to follow-up. c. Follow-up on Bioterrorism Engagement (our #3): The GOC team sees this as one of the more successful bilateral programs and wants us to update where things stand and how we keep it progressing; d. Cooperative Counterterrorism Research and Development (R & D) (our #4): Beaulieu noted that last year we spent ninety minutes in plenary discussing this topic, and recommended that we limit this to a very brief overview presentation on current activities and future challenges by representatives current activities and future challenges by representatives of the two programs and that there be a breakout session at some point to permit more detailed discussions at the working level, on which the group could receive a briefing at the end of the session; -- NEW ISSUE: Perspectives on G8 Roma Lyon Process. The GOC team is interested in our priorities, how we will work with Japan, etc., and would welcome a discussion on how we will approach this, to include Critical Infrastructure Protection, PPP, and Cyber proposals; -- NEW ISSUE: Geographic and Regional Issues -- Western Hemisphere and Asia. Because of Canada's new focus on the hemisphere, the GOC would welcome a discussion of CT issues in the region. Because of the criticality of Afghanistan, the GOC team also wants to compare notes on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Beaulieu noted that we would need to limit the Afghanistan discussion to a few focused issues; e. U.S.-Canada Counterterrorism Concerns (our #5): * Beaulieu emphasized that the GOC does not want to repeat what is already under discussion in other fora (e.g. border control, passports, visas, etc.); * The GOC team would rather open this up for specific concerns from both sides. If we stick to the issues we are proposing they would like add a few of theirs. f. Strategies and Options for Dealing with Terrorist Financing (our #6) * The GOC team proposed making this less operational and more strategic in focus than what we proposed; * The GOC team would like to see presentations by FINTRAC and FINCEN on their strategic approaches; * The GOC team wants to include a G-8 discussions update if there are issues remaining after fall meetings. g. TOPOFF 4: Exchange of views on the completed exercise (our #7) h. Briefing on USG Regional Strategic Initiative (our #8) i. Recent Developments in National Security Issues (CHANGE to our #9 away from changes to their organization in the direction of policy changes) * Canadian Anti-terrorism Act review; * Canadian issue of Security Certificates. j. Radicalization and Outreach (our #10) * GOC team recommended discussion at a higher, strategic level, perhaps including the RCMP's new unit to work with minority communities; . * Challenges and Responses; * Lessons learned. k. U.S.-Canada cooperation to promote capacity building and assistance programs (#11) * GOC team proposed a focus on places where there is a clear need for us to work together, not just compare notes on where we are working individually. ¶4. (SBU) Administrative and Technical Issues -- Beaulieu recommended that, if we are to host a dinner, it be on the evening of January 17. This would "capture" the GOC participants and ensure that they do not start leaving on the afternoon before the session concludes; -- Beaulieu said one of the interagency team wanted to ensure that Iran fits prominently in the program, and asked for our views on which block would provide enough time; -- Beaulieu suggested that Director Moher would also benefit from meetings in Washington with CIA, FBI, NCTC, noting that Moher could possibly come down a day early for these; -- The team asked to know soonest if the meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. or outside the city in order to plan travel now. Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap WILKINS