GUIDANCE FOR CTC'S FIFTH SPECIAL MEETING IN

UNCLAS STATE 149594 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTFN PREL PTER KE XA SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR CTC'S FIFTH SPECIAL MEETING IN NAIROBI, KENYA, OCTOBER 29-31, 2007 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The UNSC's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) will hold its Fifth Special Meeting with International and Regional Organizations on the Prevention of Terrorist Movement and Effective Border Security on October 29-31 in Nairobi, Kenya. This event will address key issues related to the need to secure borders against penetration by terrorists and perpetration of terrorist acts. It will have as its principal aims the enhancement of cooperation and coordination among the CTC and international, regional and sub-regional organizations in facilitating UN Member States' implementation of UNSCR 1373 and the United Nations Global Counterterrorism Strategy. It will also serve to raise the level of awareness of work done by international organizations among participants in the meeting with a view to identifying possible areas of overlap and to avoid duplication of effort. ¶2. The meeting consists of five thematic workshop-type sessions moderated by five international organizations: the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol),the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),the International Maritime Organization (IMO),the World Customs Organization (WCO),and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Each session will include discussion of the issues and interventions from participants and produce a synopsis of discussions, including recommendations on cooperation and capacity building. ¶3. The meeting is expected to produce a joint statement on the importance of cooperation on border security issues in order to combat terrorism effectively, and to agree on a follow-up action plan incorporating specific activities and anticipated time frame for implementation. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶4. While Nairobi-based USG officials will attend the conference in observer capacity, there may be opportunities to raise issues of importance to the USG. Embassy officials attending this meeting should, as appropriate, underscore the following points: Tightening border security, to include better training for border officials on identification of false travel documents, could appreciably impact states' abilities to enforce the travel ban on terrorists subject to UNSCR 1267 (al-Qaida/Taliban) sanctions. Arrest and prosecution of individuals involved in making/selling false travel documents is also needed. Timely reporting of lost/stolen passport data to Interpol is critical to preventing the exploitation of travel documents by terrorists and criminals. Effective border security entails preventing not only movement of terrorist operators across borders, but also movement of terrorist funds, including cash couriers. Member States should continue to work toward the adoption and implementation of international standards to detect the physical cross-border transportation of currency and bearer negotiable instruments supportive of terrorism. Improved information sharing in the movement of illicit funds across borders, which in many cases would require a strengthening of national laws to allow for increased cooperation, could help stem the flow of cash couriers facilitating terrorist activities. Regional and bilateral terrorist watchlist information-sharing leverages individual countries' efforts to improve security. Push for the adoption of a joint statement, vice declaration, at the end of the meeting. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶5. Embassy should report results of efforts by cable by November 9, 2007. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶6. Resolution 1373, which the Security Council adopted unanimously in September 2001, obligates states to take wide reaching measures to combat terrorism. The resolution also established the Security Council's Counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) to monitor states' implementation of the resolution and to facilitate the delivery of technical assistance to states that need it to implement the resolution. In 2004, the Council established the Counter-terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to assist the CTC in monitoring states' implementation of 1373 and in CTC's capacity-building efforts. ¶7. The CTC has held four special meetings with regional and other international organizations. The Fourth Special Meeting was held in 2003 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, while previous special meetings were held in Vienna, Washington, DC, and New York. The Fifth Special Meeting should build on the outcome of these previous special meetings with international, regional and sub-regional organizations, which focused primarily on topics that included terrorist financing and international cooperation. -------------- POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶8. Follow-up inquiries may be directed to IO/PSC (Erin Crowe, 202-736-7847). RICE