INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS -- GETTING THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 100866 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC CW IAEA KPAO OSCE PREL PTER UNSC SUBJECT: INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS -- GETTING THE 1540 COMMITTEE WORK PLAN ORGANIZED REF: A. UNVIE 158 ¶B. UNVIE 434 ¶C. THE HAGUE 721 ¶D. USOSCE 219 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ) PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (U) This is an action request for USUN, see para 4. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. During recent consultations in Vienna, the Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reiterated its interest in working closely with the 1540 Committee. The TPB sought clarification on the status of a comparative table promised by the 1540 Committee on UNSC counter-terrorism conventions and protocols regarding 1540 obligations, as well as direct correspondence from the 1540 Committee on what it wants from UNODC in a working relationship. Washington views both questions as a timely reminder for the 1540 Committee to focus on its upcoming work program due at the end of this year. Washington wants to clarify USG positions before the work program is distributed for Committee comment to members at large. The United States has expressed its interest in a robust relationship with not only UNODC but also the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) within their respective mandates -- and wants any correspondence from the Committee to these organizations to accurately reflect USG views in concert with our delegations in Vienna and The Hague. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) Background for Post only. Per refs A-C, UNODC, IAEA, and OPCW have all corresponded or worked in support of UNSCR 1540 and the Committee itself. Moreover, well over 140 countries have submitted reports to the 1540 Committee on their internal controls as well as on implementation of the resolution. The reports and the 140 states, underlying systems of regulation vary widely. The 1540 Committee has developed a basic questionnaire which it sent out to assist countries in reporting on their control systems, reviewed reports submitted to it, developed a set of matrices for evaluating national systems of control, undertaken various outreach activities to encourage regional and national implementation efforts, and begun to serve as a clearing house to connect countries willing to provide assistance to other countries that need improvement. The mandate of the 1540 Committee was extended in 2008 for another three years to allow it to fulfill implementation efforts. A new Committee work plan is due by December 31. End background for Post only. ACTION REQUEST ¶4. (SBU) Washington requests USUN take the following actions to ensure that REFTEL views from UNVIE and The Hague are integrated into a work plan developed by the 1540 Committee and its Panel of Experts. -- The 2008 implementation report indicates there is much work to be done and we want to shift toward implementation and not just awareness raising -- and therefore Post should work with P3 and other like-minded Committee members to ensure the work program facilitates our stated objectives in drafting UNSCR 1810. -- Washington seeks Russia's comments on the UNODC STATE 00100866 002 OF 002 comparative matrix by October 15 so the matrix can be finalized and placed on the Committee agenda for discussion and approval. -- UNODC TPB asked what the 1540 Committee wants from UNODC in support and Washington understands the Panel of Experts is preparing a reply. Washington wants to review this reply before it is finalized and circulated. Post should make sure this supports our broader objectives with other international organizations per REFTELS. -- Post should ask the 1540 Committee to clearly state what it wants from the IAEA and OPCW and for each organization to state what it really wants from the 1540 Committee. The 1540 Committee, the IAEA, and the OPCW should formalize these requests in writing before the work plan is finished this year. Washington seeks draft proposals from the Committee by the end of October. (Note. Even in its August 18 Press Release, the 1540 Committee reiterated its pledge to work closely with OPCW and IAEA -- but both organizations have been reluctant to clearly define how to establish mechanisms for sharing of information and priorities for coordination beyond attending one another,s workshops. End note). -- Regarding the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),the 1540 Committee Chairman has not responded to an invitation sent in July to speak to the 56 participating States in the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) during the Fall session. USOSCE confirmed the Finnish desire for this to be scheduled October 15 and USUN should impress upon the Chair (in consultation with Finland) that for planning purposes we recommend an affirmative reply be sent before the September 24 FSC Plenary. (Note. If the Chairman is unable to travel, Washington would consider the Croatian Vice-Chairman an excellent choice given Croatia's position as a member of the OSCE as well as host of a recent 1540 Workshop in cooperation with NATO. End note). See also Ref D. -- Finally, Washington notes that the technical assistance templates that were also mentioned in Vienna consultations have yet to be translated into all six UN languages and posted on the UN website. Post should ensure this is done before the first UN Workshop post-UNSCR 1810 takes place with ASEAN nations on October 27. ¶5. (U) Reporting deadline. Post is requested to respond NLT September 23 regarding the OSCE invitation, NLT October 15 with a draft work program for Washington review, and NLT October 31 on proposals for IAEA and OPCW. POINT OF CONTACT ¶6. Washington thanks Post for its continued support which is greatly appreciated towards these objectives. ¶7. (U) Please contact U.S. 1540 Coordinator Tom Wuchte at (202) 736-4275 for any further background. RICE