PERU: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT PRIOR TO MAY 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000805 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR AF, ISN, T, AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL SUBJECT: PERU: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT PRIOR TO MAY 2008 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. REF: SECSTATE 48221 Classified By: Acting DCM Alexis Ludwig. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) POLOFF on May 7 contacted MFA Chief of International Security and Disarmament Liliam Ballon regarding reftel demarche. Ballon explained that the MFA had forwarded to Peru's MOD our invitation to attend the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) outreach workshop May 29 in Washington. Ballon said an official from Peru's embassy in Washington, perhaps the military attache, would likely attend. ¶2. (C) Regarding possible Peruvian endorsement of the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP),Ballon explained that she had initiated consultations within the MFA that could lead to eventual endorsement, but did not know when such a decision might be made. She added by way of background that she had met in November 2007 with representatives of Poland's embassy in Peru on the subject. Ballon said that the Polish had proposed organizing an educational seminar on the PSI for GOP audiences and promised to get back to her with more detail, but had not done so to date. ¶3. (C) Ballon added that certain influential Peruvian MOD officials were interested in the PSI and saw it as a way to increase U.S.-Peruvian cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Post will maintain contact with Ballon during their consultative process and report further developments via septel. MCKINLEY