UNSC 1373: NEW CTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLANS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001156 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PTER PREL SUBJECT: UNSC 1373: NEW CTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLANS CHANGES ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: At a courtesy call on December 10, Ambassador Michael Smith (Australia),the newly appointed Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee's Executive Directorate (CTED),told Ambassador Khalilzad and Ambassador Wolcott that CTED can perform its current functions better, although he does not think CTED's broad mandate needs significant adjustments. Resolution 1787, which the Security Council adopted unanimously on December 10, extends CTED's mandate for 90 days and requests Smith, within 60 days of adoption of the resolution and in consultation with Security Council members, to recommend "such changes he deems appropriate to CTED's organizational plan." END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) In a December 10 meeting with CTED Executive Director Smith, Ambassador Khalilzad stressed the importance of CTED and invited Smith's views on whether the Security Council should change CTED's mandate. Ambassador Khalilzad said the temporary rollover of CTED's mandate provides a useful opportunity to look at all aspects of the Security Council's work on terrorism, noting that the Council is a better forum than the General Assembly for pursuing counterterrorism initiatives. ¶3. (SBU) Smith thanked the United States for supporting his successful candidacy and said he would use the next 60 days to develop ideas on CTED's mandate, in consultation with Security Council members. Smith agreed that the General Assembly is not doing much on counterterrorism but thought significantly changing CTED's mandate might not be appropriate, since the General Assembly, in adopting the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, has "covered the waterfront." Instead, he envisaged proposing changes in CTED's working methods and its organizational structure. ¶4. (SBU) Although CTED's activities are "useful," Smith said CTED could do its work better and could do more within its existing mandate. Smith said he plans to try to change CTED's office culture to be sure it does a better job reaching out to and winning broad support from Member States, many of which are reaching the limits of their tolerance for allowing CTED to examine carefully their counterterrorism efforts. For example, he said it is not necessarily appropriate or effective for CTED to criticize deeply underdeveloped States that are "marginal in the war on terror" for failing to adopt sophisticated legislation on counterterrorism financing. To garner States' support, he recommended that CTED become more broadly and more openly involved in the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. ¶5. (SBU) Smith also said he wants to get CTED to articulate where its "value-added" lies, noting that sometimes CTED duplicates work that is already being done well bilaterally or through other multilateral bodies. For example, when CTED visited Indonesia, where Australia is extensively engaged, CTED tried to accomplish a number of goals that Australia could pursue more effectively. In contrast, he thought CTED could play a constructive role in helping to create pressure on the Indonesian Parliament, which has been reluctant to adopt new counterterrorism legislation. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Smith is taking his new responsibilities seriously and is prepared to engage productively with the United States. His thoughtful, pragmatic approach will be an excellent asset for the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its CTED, and the Mission will continue to work closely with him as he refines his ideas concerning CTED's organization and mandate. End Comment. Khalilzad