EL SALVADOR RESPONSE TO U/S JOSEPH LETTER

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000050 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR ISN AND T E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL PHSA EWWT EAIR PBTS ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR RESPONSE TO U/S JOSEPH LETTER REF: A. 06 STATE 179478 ¶B. 06 SAN SALVADOR 2624 ¶1. (U) On December 28, 2006 post received the following dipnote in response to reftel A. ¶2. (SBU) Begin Text (unofficial translation): Mr. Under-Secretary: With great interest we received your message which makes reference to the role that the countries that participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) should play, with a view to the full implementation of measures included in the UN Security Council Resolution 1718. It is an opportune time to mention that El Salvador has already expressed its political will to cooperate in the efforts against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, its vectors and technologies, through support to the Declaration of Principles of Interception of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),which is considered useful to contribute to the implementation of Resolution 1718, according to operative paragraph 8 operative, sub paragraph a. Additionally, I would like to inform you that El Salvador shares the general concern of the international community on the nuclear test recently performed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),which has been officially expressed by the Salvadoran Government unilaterally, as well as through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations, emphasizing that such actions go against the will and aspirations of the international community about the non proliferation of nuclear weapons. Our announcement also exhorts the DPRK to abandon its policy of developing nuclear weapons and to return to the international regime established in the Non Proliferation Treaty. On the same issue, El Salvador has followed closely the implementation of Resolution 1695 (2006) of the UN Security Council and has requested that the DPRK suspend all activities related to its program of nuclear weapons, urging it to continue to participate in the conversations of the Security Council and with other Member States of the UN, in order to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the problem. In a complimentary way, in the framework of the diplomatic efforts made, and in agreement with the operative paragraphs number 13 and 14 of the 1718 Resolution, my country has given joint declarations along with Japan and the Republic of Korea, during the recent visit of the President of the Republic, Mr. El!as Antonio Saca to those countries, condemning the use of ballistic missiles and the nuclear tests by the DPRK. El Salvador believes that the risk that the DPRK is still involved in prohibited activities persists, and therefore, politically supports the mechanisms and measurements to verify the observance of Resolution 1718, particularly freezing the financial movements of those directly responsible for the proliferation of weapons, vectors and nuclear technologies. In reference to the creation of a structure for the detection of radiation at a regional level, with the objective of ensuring that the DPRK does not export or transfer weapons and/or nuclear materials to other countries or to non-state actors, El Salvador, at first, has shown interest in this proposal; nevertheless I would need to say that both within the country and the Central American region there are no financial and technical resources to implement a structure of detection of radiation; it would be necessary to have more detailed information on this topic for my country to be better able to consider our assistance to implementing such a program. Finally, I would like to say that El Salvador has co-sponsored and will continue supporting the international efforts that strengthen the regime against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear tests, and the threat of usage of such weapons, both in the First Commission, in the Conference on Disarmament, and in the General Assembly of the United Nations. I avail myself of this opportunity to express to you the assurances of my highest consideration. /S/ Eduardo Calix Lopez Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs End Text. ¶3. (U) Original text faxed to WHA/CEN. Barclay