MOVING FORWARD ON THE JOINT WORKING GROUP:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001525 SIPDIS SIPDIS S/CT FOR GFEIERSTEIN AND BAVERILL DS/ATA FOR KMALOY DEPT OF ENERGY PASS TO TLYONS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2017 TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON PTER ASEC SA SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD ON THE JOINT WORKING GROUP: AUGUST-SEPTEMBER ACTIVITIES REF: JONES-ROSS E-MAIL 7/16/2007 Classified By: ADCM DRUNDELL for reasons 1.4 (b) (c) and (d). ¶1. This is an action request. S/CT, DS/ATA, and DOE/OE please see paragraphs 3 4, and 5. ¶2. (C) In a July 17 meeting with Ministry of Interior (MOI) Joint Working Group (JWG) Co-Chair Dr. Saud al-Semari and MOI Industrial Security Director Khalid al-Ageel, the U.S. JWG Co-Chair/Economic Counselor Murphy, DHS Attache Chabot, and Energy Attache Ross reviewed and discussed next steps on critical infrastructure protection and calendar items for the next two months. -------------- -------------- Next JWG Meeting: Please Respond with Preferred Dates -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Saudi MOI has offered to hold the next JWG for two days within the time period between August 25 to September 9. Our MOI counterparts are happy to work around the U.S. Labor Day holiday. Pending MOI confirmation, the next JWG meeting will likely be held in Jeddah, as most of the SAG has moved there for the summer. (Note: The Saudi workweek runs from Saturday until Wednesday. Ramadan is based on a variable lunar calendar, but is expected to begin on/about September 12. We should plan for most JWG activity with Saudi counterparts to wrap up by then, and remain in abeyance until about October 18.) Action Request: Embassy Riyadh requests S/CT coordinate preferred dates within this timeframe with all USG agencies expected to attend the next JWG meeting in Saudi Arabia and transmit these to Embassy Riyadh by late July. -------------- -------------- Land/Maritime Assessment Teams for Western Region -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Action Request: In consultation with the JWG Co-Chairs, Embassy Riyadh requests that during the week prior to the next JWG meeting, the JWG deploy teams of subject matter experts (SME) to conduct 2-3 day site surveys/vulnerability assessments of critical infrastructure sites in the Western region. We request a land-based team and a maritime team to assess sites in Jeddah and/or Yanbu. Final site selection should be based on the list of Tier 1 facilities developed during the recent Design Basis Threat (DBT) workshop in Riyadh, administered by Sandia Labs with participants from the Ministry of Interior and security experts from the energy, water, power, and petrochemical sectors. This list will be forwarded separately. (Ref A, List of Critical Infrastructure Sites) Action Request: The JWG Co-Chairs further request that the land and maritime team leaders be prepared to make presentations of the teams' preliminary findings at the late August/early September JWG meeting. Action Request: The MOI has also requested that a small number of MOI and security industry participants from the June 2007 DBT workshop be permitted to accompany the SME teams on their Western region assessment to help them better understand the process. Embassy Riyadh requests feedback from the designated team leaders on this suggestion, and, if feasible, how to best incorporate possible Saudi members into the teams. -------------- Next Series of Training Classes -------------- ¶5. (C) Action Request: Embassy Riyadh requests the JWG and DOE/OE make all necessary administrative and financial support available to ensure four training courses as follows can be completed in the timely manner prior to the start of the Ramadan holiday. Embassy Riyadh requests Sandia Labs RIYADH 00001525 002 OF 002 deploy at least 3 instructors to teach four courses during the August-early September timeframe as follows: --A combined DBT course (3 days) and Fundamentals of Physical Protection (FPPS) course (3 Days) for security managers. The course will be taught in a combined session over six days to an English-proficient group of between 21-24 trainees from the Ministry of Interior and security manager from relevant industries. --The combined course will be taught once in Riyadh and once in a location TBD in the Eastern Province, and be completed prior to Ramadan. We are waiting for suggested course dates from the MOI, and will advise on them as soon as possible. MOI also advises that the final course dates depend on the dates of the JWG meeting, so S/CT is encouraged to respond regarding the JWG meeting dates as soon as possible. Embassy Riyadh thanks S/CT, DS/ATA, DOE/OE, and Sandia Labs for their assistance in administering the JWG program, and their cooperation on these action requests. GFOELLER