Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07STATE83491
2007-06-14 21:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

THE UNITED STATES AND THE GUAM ORGANIZATION --

Tags:  PREL OVIP EAID ECON KCRM AJ GG MD UP 
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VZCZCXRO5779
OO RUEHDBU
DE RUEHC #3491/01 1652137
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 142127Z JUN 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO CIS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 8790
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 083491 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREL OVIP EAID ECON KCRM AJ GG MD UP
SUBJECT: THE UNITED STATES AND THE GUAM ORGANIZATION --
PRE-SUMMIT TALKING POINTS

Classified By: EUR DAS David Kramer, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 083491

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SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREL OVIP EAID ECON KCRM AJ GG MD UP
SUBJECT: THE UNITED STATES AND THE GUAM ORGANIZATION --
PRE-SUMMIT TALKING POINTS

Classified By: EUR DAS David Kramer, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.


2. (C) The 2007 Organization for Democracy and Economic
Development - GUAM Summit in Baku is an opportunity for the
U.S. to bolster this organization, both by complimenting GUAM
on its achievements and by urging establishment of its
Secretariat and full use of its Virtual Law Enforcement

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Center (VLEC). EUR DAS David Kramer will represent the
United States at the June 18-19 Summit. Via FREEDOM Support
Act funds, the United States is supporting the VLEC project
and plans to assist in the setting up of the GUAM Secretariat
in Kyiv. This cable contains talking points for GUAM member
states (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) as well as
points that can be used in non-member countries that have
expressed an interest in GUAM, such as Romania, Bulgaria,
Poland, Turkey and Japan.

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TALKING POINTS FOR BOTH MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER STATES
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3. (C) Embassies in GUAM countries are asked to present the
following points to host governments in advance of the
Summit. These points may also be used at posts' discretion
in countries outside GUAM that have expressed an interest in
the U.S.-GUAM relationship. Department plans to present
these points to the GUAM Embassies in Washington at a
working-level, pre-Summit meeting organized by the Ukrainian
Embassy.

--The United States continues to strongly support GUAM. We
are pleased to see GUAM moving from discussions to
operations.

--The United States also supports the commitment of the GUAM
member states to have the GUAM Secretariat in Kyiv
functioning no later than November. We appreciate the
efforts being made to ensure the Secretariat begins
functioning as soon as possible.

--We look for the Secretariat to become our primary point of

contact for projects within the U.S.-GUAM Framework. For
this reason, we applaud the decision taken at the GUAM
National Coordinators Meeting in March to empower the
Secretary-General to discuss programs undertaken within the

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U.S.-GUAM Framework on behalf of the member states.

--When the Secretariat is established, the United States will
assist in establishing budget and audit procedures.

--The United States continues to support the GUAM Virtual Law
Enforcement Center (VLEC). We strongly encourage the GUAM
member states to set operational goals for VLEC activities
that will have real-world impact, and to get as much use out
of the VLEC as possible.

--We would be very interested to hear what plans GUAM has for
the coming year, and how those plans can be translated into
concrete actions.

ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR EMBASSY KYIV:

--We greatly appreciate Ukraine's strong leadership in
providing a home for the GUAM Secretariat and in trying to
get the Secretariat operational as soon as possible.

--The effectiveness of the GUAM Virtual Law Enforcement
Center (VLEC) has been hampered by challenges presented by
GOU choices in its implementation of VLEC. Ukraine is the
only member state that has opted to place its VLEC
coordination node in a security service facility; i.e., the
State Security Service (SBU). In keeping with the European
principles underscored in the Chisinau Declaration, the other
GUAM member states have placed this law enforcement tool in
their Ministries of Interior. The Ukrainian choice, given
the culture of the SBU, has been an obstacle to active
communication between the member states' law enforcement
bodies.

--More recently Ukraine's decision not to use the VLEC
encryption code agreed to by the other three member states
has imposed limitations on operational communication within
the VLEC system. We urge Ukraine to be pro-active in
resolving this issue.

STATE 00083491 002 OF 003


ADDITIONAL POINT FOR EMBASSY BAKU:

--What specific plans does Azerbaijan have for the period of
its GUAM Presidency?

ADDITIONAL POINT FOR EMBASSY CHISINAU:

--What are Moldova's plans regarding ratification of the GUAM
Charter?

--Has Moldova, like the three other member states, already
made arrangements to second a Moldovan government official to
serve on the international staff of the GUAM Secretariat in
Kyiv?

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IF-ASKED POINTS FOR GUAM MEMBER STATES
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4. (C) The following points are to be used with GUAM member
states on an if-asked basis:

GUAM PEACEKEEPING BATTALION AND/OR OTHER NEW PROJECTS:

--We would be happy to hear details on any new project
proposal.

--However, at present, we feel it is important to get the
Secretariat up and running before initiating new projects.

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We also believe that we need to focus on getting the
newly-established VLEC fully operational and realizing its
potential.

--We believe that a tight focus will bring more achievements
more quickly, and that this will make GUAM stronger and more
credible.

GUAM UNGA RESOLUTION:

--Our support for the inscription of the GUAM resolution on
the UNGA agenda was based on our support for the general
principle of inscription. GUAM states should not interpret
this as support for the content of their draft resolution.

--Given our strong commitment to ongoing negotiations for a
peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, the United States would not support -- and would
strongly consider voting against -- a resolution that is
unacceptable to Armenia.

--We encourage the GUAM states to work with Armenia to come
up with mutually acceptable language if they are determined
to move forward with a draft resolution.

--Even if GUAM and Armenia find mutually acceptable language,
Russia will likely still oppose the resolution. GUAM members
should take into account that this could lead to active
efforts to undermine or alter the resolution that could
result in substantive amendments that GUAM members may be
unable to defeat.

--Finally, GUAM should take into consideration Kosovo
deliberations at the UN and avoid taking action on their
draft resolution at an inopportune moment in the Kosovo
context.

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IF-ASKED POINTS FOR COUNTRIES OUTSIDE GUAM
--------------


5. (C) The following points are to be used on an if-asked
basis with countries outside GUAM that have expressed
interest in the organization:

GUAM PEACEKEEPING BATTALION AND/OR OTHER NEW PROJECTS:

--We would welcome information on any new project proposal.

--However, at present, we feel it is important to get the
Secretariat up and running before initiating new projects.

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--We also believe that GUAM should focus on getting the
newly-established VLEC fully operational and realizing its
potential.

GUAM UNGA RESOLUTION:

--The United States supported the inscription of the GUAM
resolution on conflicts on the UNGA agenda, based on our
support for the general principle of inscription.

STATE 00083491 003 OF 003


--As a Co-Chair in the OSCE Minsk Group, the U.S. works to
facilitate a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

--We will not take a position on the resolution itself until
a text is introduced but have urged GUAM countries to consult
with relevant parties, including Armenia.

--At the same time, we have urged relevant countries to avoid
any steps, including at the UN, which could create obstacles
to ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

--We would not support, and would consider opposing, a
resolution that we consider counterproductive to conflict
resolution efforts.

ASSISTANCE TO GUAM:

--The United States would welcome technical assistance to
GUAM from interested states to help ensure the Secretariat
begins functioning as soon as possible.

--The United States would also welcome initiatives to help
GUAM member states collectively realize their goals of
promoting European norms and standards within their region.
RICE