GLOBAL INITIATIVE EXERCISE PLANNING GROUP FIRST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 PARIS 000867

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2018
TAGS: KGIC MCAP PINR PTER PARM IAEA FR
SUBJECT: GLOBAL INITIATIVE EXERCISE PLANNING GROUP FIRST
MEETING, PARIS, 4-15-08

REF: MOSCOW 965

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: As part of the Global Initiative to Combat
Nuclear Terrorism, the Initiative co-chairs held the first
Exercise Planning Group (EPG) meeting on April 15 in Paris to
begin coordinating the development and execution of
international exercises aimed at combating the threat posed
by nuclear terrorism. Representatives from 26 countries
participated in this meeting to chart the way ahead for the
Initiative,s exercise program. Key items of discussion
included the first GI table-top exercise to be hosted by
Spain on May 29-30; the possibilities of generating new
exercises around the GI principles, and integrating these
principles into already-planned national exercises. South
Korea volunteered to host a workshop in early 2009 on
information sharing between countries. Some participants
lamented co-chair Russia,s absence, but all expressed
interest in the work of the EPG as a way to fulfill the
principles of the Global Initiative. End summary.

Exercises to Enhance the Global Initiative
--------------


2. (U) The Exercise Planning Group (EPG) is an advisory body,
open to participation by any partner of the GI. The EPG aims
to meet twice per year to guide and support development of
exercises and planning scenarios to enhance the capabilities
of GI partners to accomplish the objectives in the GI
Statement of Principles. The Statement of Principles and EPG
related information as well as the presentations from this
meeting are available online:
http://t.state.gov/t/isn/cwmdt/gicnt/gicnt.ht m.


3. (U) The April 15, 2008 EPG meeting established a benchmark
for future planning and highlighted key interests of
partners. Those present identified interactivity and
communication between local, national, regional, and global
entities as of primary concern. They noted a tension between
knowing what national vulnerabilities might be exposed by
exercises and how best to share lessons learned without
divulging sensitive information.


4. (U) Participants also noted that for effective integration
of GI exercises with future national exercises, a long lead
time would be required. Canada pointed out its five-year
planning cycle. The US delegation noted intentions for the
EPG to utilize a six- to twelve-month planning cycle.

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Advanced planning would provide for inclusion of national
exercise resources in the GI exercise program; in certain
instances it could also allow some GI principles to be
tested, and international observers included, in national
exercises.


5. (SBU) Georgia emphasized the need to exercise objectives
focused on prevention of safe haven, finance, and information
sharing. Georgia also highlighted its national requirement
for training exercises focused on combating illicit
trafficking of nuclear materials. Ukraine emphasized the
importance of principle objectives focused on detection and
consequence management. Ukraine also noted the challenge of
integrating local authorities in the response phase of a
crisis. The United Kingdom emphasized that exercises should
be used to demonstrate and evaluate best practices to
facilitate learning. Exercises will also allow partners to
experiment with new concepts. Norway was "inspired" to think
about appropriate planning scenarios and will discuss this
issue with its interagency prior to the 4th meeting.


6. (U) In this first EPG, many but not all partners were
represented by knowledgeable experts in the field of national
security exercises. It was noted that for an effective
exchange, officials familiar with their countries, exercise
programs should attend future EPGs.


7. (SBU) The U.S. delegation strongly emphasized the
importance of planning scenarios and their contribution to
the development of exercises. The FBI provided a
presentation on illustrative scenarios drawing upon U.S.
national planning scenarios addressing improvised nuclear
devices and radioactive dispersal devices. The U.S.
requested all partners to provide recommended planning
scenarios to U.S. and Russian co-chairs in early June to
support principal-level discussions on exercise planning
scenarios at the 4th meeting in Madrid.

Spain to Host Table-Top Exercise May 28-30 in Madrid
-------------- --------------


8. (U) The Spanish delegation reviewed plans for the
table-top exercise (TTX) they will host in May. This served
to focus discussion on exactly which GI principles would be
tested, which countries would be at the table (Spain, Russia,
Germany, U.S., possibly Morocco),general rules for
participation in the TTX, how best to share the results, and
how to use the electronic GI Information Portal (GIIP) to
advance exercise efforts.


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9. (SBU) In a US-Spanish meeting after the EPG, the Spanish
delegation noted that each participating country should
provide intelligence, law enforcement, crisis management, and
diplomatic participants. Spain will conduct a dry run the
week of May 26 with the TTX on the 29-30. U.S. reps said a
GIIP team, a Red/White "cell," and facilitator would arrive
in advance to support the dry run and actual exercise.


10. (C) Also at this side meeting, the Spanish (hosts of the
2008 GI Meeting in June) suggested that Chile be asked to
host the 2009 GI Meeting, since Chile was present at this EPG
and that the Spanish along with the US and Russian co-chairs
would be conducting outreach activities in Latin America this
year.

French Experience with Nuclear Exercises
--------------


11. (SBU) Mr. Eric Plaisant, Senior Advisor of the French
High Official for Defence and Security provided a
presentation on security drills at French nuclear sites. He
noted that the protection of nuclear power plants in France
is a shared responsibility between commercial operators and
the government. Typically, France conducts a minimum of one
national exercise every 18 months. Commercial operators
conduct an average of 4-6 exercises per year. These
exercises make use of Special Forces to simulate attacks, as
well as simulated media and families of nuclear plant
personnel to realistically portray challenges faced by
decision makers, operators, and security elements during a
crisis.

South Korea Offers to Host EPG Workshop
--------------


12. (SBU) The South Korean representative described that the
workshop in early 2009 would examine how information flows
between local, national, and international entities,
specifically focusing on Global Initiative Principle 8.
Partners responded positively.

No Russian Presence
--------------


13. (C) Repeated USG efforts to ensure participation by the
Russian co-chair could not guarantee GOR participation due to
a last minute medical emergency and staffing shortfalls. GOR
did send reps to attend the Washington-based EPG planning
meeting 4/8/08. REFTEL notes that the Russian point of
contact for the Global Initiative changed the week before the

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EPG. Reps from some countries (notably Austria and Spain)
expressed disappointment in Russia,s absence.

Representation
--------------


14. (U) Over 60 attendees from defense, energy, foreign
affairs, law enforcement, intelligence, and other ministries
from 26 partners took part in the 4/15/08 EPG, including:
Australia, Austria, Bosnia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France,
Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Romania,
Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
EU, and the United States.

French Bilateral Meeting April 16
--------------


15. (U) On April 16 Office of WMD Terrorism Acting Director
Andrew Grant met with seven representatives from the French
MFA to discuss the Global Initiative. The dominant themes
for the meeting were: (1) EPG results, GI outreach, French
participation in GI and GI activities, and HEU conversion and
minimization.

EPG
---


16. (C) The French were pleased with the overall EPG meeting.
They felt exercises on nuclear facilities were underutilized
and saw the EPG as an opportunity to highlight that gap. The
French are committed to the EPG and look forward to seeing if
partnership will follow. However, the French recommended the
EPG seek a clearer definition of "exercise" -- how to run
complex exercises -- as it did not seem immediately clear to
all EPG participants. Grant assured the French that it will
take time to share model programs as we need all partners at
same level of representation. Grant urged patience in
building this program. The French also noted their concern
about the US decision to share what they viewed as a
potential vulnerability in the US presentation at the 3rd
meeting on a possible nuclear terrorism scenario. French
officials felt they would never want to share such a
vulnerability and felt that the FBI,s presentation at the
EPG reflected a course change to share such detailed
information on a scenario. Grant pointed out that we likely
see the issue as different. In no way did the US share a
known vulnerability but we felt it important to offer even a
modestly plausible scenario to focus the attention of the
participants. It is a balance that requires constant

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attention and we felt that the timing and scenario was
appropriate to call attention to the need for strengthening
our transnational efforts.

Plan of Work Activities
--------------


17. (SBU) Grant then turned the meeting towards a potential
joint Plan of Work Activity with the Defense Threat Reduction
Agency (DTRA) on "Technologies for Combating the Nuclear
Threat" Workshop. France said they might consider attaching
this workshop to their already scheduled December activity to
be run by France as the EU President. France will study our
proposal and get back to us.

Global Initiative Information Portal
--------------


18. (C) The French were adamant in pointing out the
information portal is an opportunity for information sharing
-- not for passing sensitive information. The French would
very much like the issue of confidentiality brought up at the
GIIP meeting held this June in Estonia. Grant made it clear
that the US would appreciate France,s participation in the
GIIP meeting. France stated that they would consider
attending.

France,s Outreach Efforts
--------------


19. (SBU) Grant encouraged France to outreach to Saudi
Arabia, the Middle East, the Sahel and South Africa. France
noted they would be attending a 1540 Workshop in the Persian
Gulf this June, which could be a good outreach opportunity.
Grant noted the Co-Chairs would be happy to participate in
triple demarches with the French. France indicated that they
would support this shared effort.

HEU minimization
--------------


20. (SBU) Grant stated HEU minimization was important to work
with both the political and technical experts for GI. He
also noted the US would be discussing HEU minimization at the
fourth meeting in Madrid. France said they would get back
with us because they needed the "real" experts here to
discuss this. Grant noted that he was not an expert on the
subject himself but that the decision to convert was as much
a political commitment as it was a technical commitment.
France agreed. Grant also made clear that the specific issue

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of conversion would be highlighted at the GI meeting in
Madrid.

France,s proposed GI workshop
--------------


21. (SBU) France would like to hold a GI workshop on exercise
methodology to focus on exercise benchmarks and improve
partnership exercise capability. Grant asked for more
information on this proposal.

French comment on overall Global Initiative
--------------


22. (C) France was apprehensive the Global Initiative may
appear too Western. France recommended hosting the fifth
Global Initiative meeting in a non-Western location. Also,
France would appreciate a more coordinated planning cycle to
ensure appropriate staffing is available to attend all of the
GI meetings and activities.


23. (U) This cable was drafted and cleared by the U.S.
delegation to the April 15, 2008 EPG in Paris.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm


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