UK PLEASED WITH U.S. DRAFT TEXT UNSCR TO RENEW

UNCLAS LONDON 001690 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN KTFN ETTC PREL PTER UNSC UK SUBJECT: UK PLEASED WITH U.S. DRAFT TEXT UNSCR TO RENEW MANDATE OF 1267 MONITORING TEAM REF: SECSTATE 66897 ¶1. (SBU) Foreign Office officials Angus Stewart, Susie Kitchens and Will Taylor, of the International Organisations Department, told us June 24 the British government is "pleased" with the U.S. draft 1267 Monitoring Team renewal. HMG agrees with the need to keep the focus on stopping the flow of funds to Al-Qaeda and Taliban. FCO also agrees that we need to send a message to the public, courts (particularly those in the UK and Europe),press and certain countries that we are actively working to make the designation and review process more open and transparent. Stewart said the UK would sign up to most of the U.S. text, with a few tweaks, primarily to the paragraph covering the Review Process (para 21.) Stewart said the European members of the UNSC, however, are concerned about having a transparent process, and may push for annual reviews of all designees. Stewart thought the FCO could live with that requirement, but he doubted some of the other British law enforcement, intelligence and treasury agencies would be comfortable with the increased workload. ¶2. (SBU) The key to a solution is coming up with a workable review mechanism that combines a focus on stopping terrorist funding with the need to ensure a fair and transparent process, while mindful of the logistics any changes to the process would entail, the officials said. The FCO believes the current Focal Point process is perceived as too opaque, and does not allow enough due process for designees. Stewart said he is concerned that the Statement of Case is not releasable to the designees. At the same time, Kitchens and Taylor discussed the need to protect the credibility of the Security Council and not create a mechanism that would undermine its authority. FCO would also like the U.S. and UK to hold steady against anticipated Russian attempts to nix language that de-lists the dead. ¶3. (SBU) A solution can likely be worked out, the officials said, and would rest on creating a reasonable review mechanism that was efficient and open. To that end, Stewart asked us to consider the mechanics of creating a review process and what the burden would be to the USG of regularized reviews (annual, every two years, x number per year, etc.),as we are the biggest designators. The UK would also like to see a system that allows for the addition to the UN list of identifiers which are unearthed after the official designation process is complete. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE