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