REQUEST FOR HIGH-LEVEL PROLIFERATION SECURITY

UNCLAS STATE 110066 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL UY SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR HIGH-LEVEL PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE (PSI) OUTREACH TO URUGUAY REF: A. STATE 029766 ¶B. STATE 041602 ¶C. STATE 068499 ¶D. STATE 075367 Sensitive but Unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Prior to the fifth anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),the U.S. sought PSI endorsements from as many countries around the world as possible (refs A and B). While Uruguay did not respond to that U.S. call (or to Canada's outreach efforts),Uruguayan embassy Counselor for Political Affairs Beraldo Nicola attended the U.S.-hosted PSI Outreach Workshop held in Washington on May 29, 2008. The U.S. provided posts a summary of the Workshop and a message of appreciation for countries' attendance (refs C and D). ¶2. (SBU) OBJECTIVE: Department experts met with Beraldo Nicola October 3 to provide an electronic copy of the workshop presentations and pursue further PSI outreach. Nicola promised to pass the workshop presentations to his capital, but recommended that an approach by the U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay's Foreign Minister would greatly reinforce his efforts and would have the best chance of persuading Uruguay to consider PSI endorsement. Washington is seeking to expand PSI participation in the Western Hemisphere prior to the next Operational Experts Group meeting to be hosted by the U.S. in May 2009, which will include a Western Hemisphere focus and will be open to all PSI partners in the region. ¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: U.S. Ambassador is requested to approach the Foreign Minister or MFA Director General as soon as possible to urge Uruguay's serious consideration of endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles. The paper contained in para 5 below is for passage to high-level Uruguayan government officials. Ambassador may also draw on the points in para 6 below. If Uruguay shows interest in the PSI and asks how to endorse, Embassy may provide a copy of the ref A para 8 sample diplomatic note. ¶4. (U) POINTS OF CONTACT: Washington points of contact for follow-up and additional information are Jane Purcell, e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov , 202-647-6186; Carlos Guzman, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov , 202-647-6320; and Caroline Croft, e-mail: CroftCJ@state.gov , (202-647-3778). Department appreciates Embassy's assistance. ¶5. (U) Begin text of U.S. PSI paper: The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a multinational effort directed at preventing the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD),their means of delivery, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. It is a partnership of more than 90 states working together to develop a broad range of legal, diplomatic, economic, military, law enforcement, and other tools to interdict shipments of WMD-related items of proliferation concern. The PSI was created as an informal, operationally oriented set of activities to complement and fill gaps in formal nonproliferation treaties and regimes. It encourages the strengthening of national legal authorities such as export controls, and to find ways states can work cooperatively to stop items of proliferation concern that get through such controls. The United States and other PSI partner states around the world would welcome your Government's participation in the PSI. By endorsing the PSI, your Government would send a clear signal of Uruguay's political commitment to stop WMD proliferation, which will act as a deterrent to proliferators who may seek to traffic in WMD and missile-related items in the Western Hemisphere. Endorsement of the PSI will provide opportunities to your Government to strengthen your security against trafficking in WMD and related items and thereby protect your international trade from exploitation by proliferators. PSI capacity-building exercises, training and sharing of best practices also provide secondary benefits in improving capabilities against all illegal trafficking and transshipments. All participation in PSI activities is voluntary. PSI endorsement will not impose any binding obligations on Uruguay, but participation in the PSI will assist with ongoing efforts that your ministries and agencies are already undertaking in the area of nonproliferation, as well as provide opportunities for additional international cooperation. The United States is reaching out to all Western Hemisphere states, to inform them of the benefits of joining together in PSI activities to strengthen international capabilities to stop the proliferation of WMD. In May 2009, the United States will host a PSI Operational Experts meeting in Miami, open to all PSI partner states in the Western Hemisphere, to plan the future direction of PSI efforts in our region. We urge your Government to seriously consider endorsing the PSI, and if you decide to do so, provide a diplomatic note to that effect to the United States or another PSI partner state. End text. ¶6. (U) Begin points on PSI: -- The United States hosted a PSI Outreach Workshop on May 29 in Washington on the occasion of the PSI's Fifth Anniversary. The workshop provided a number of informational briefings on the broad range of past and future PSI activities, including useful tools that have been developed to train, organize for, and conduct interdictions of shipments of proliferation concern. -- We appreciate Uruguay's participation in the workshop. We have provided your embassy representative an electronic copy of all the presentations given there. -- We would welcome your Government's participation in the PSI. Endorsement of the PSI will represent your government's political commitment to stop WMD-related trafficking within the constraints of your national capabilities and legal authorities. -- The illicit trafficking of WMD and related materials subverts legitimate commerce; taking action to curb this dangerous activity helps ensure that a country's commercial systems are not exploited by international criminals. -- 93 countries around the world already participate in the PSI. Other regional neighbors that participate in the PSI include Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize and The Bahamas. (See Department's PSI webpage at www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm .) -- On May 12-14, 2009, the U.S. will host a three-day PSI meeting in Miami for operational experts, with a special focus on regional aspects of the proliferation challenge. The full three days of this meeting will be open to all Western Hemisphere countries that have endorsed the PSI. It will be an opportunity for them to have a role in shaping the direction of the PSI in the Western Hemisphere. -- PSI participation offers opportunities for states to enhance their counter-proliferation capabilities by participating in interdiction exercises, attending meetings among experts, and sharing information. In this way, PSI participation helps countries fulfill their legally binding obligations to implement UNSCR 1540. That UN resolution identified the proliferation of WMD as a threat to international peace and security and identified cooperative action against illicit trafficking as one way for states to counter the proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery. -- To date, PSI partner states have conducted over 35 operational interdiction training exercises (air, maritime, ground and tabletop) involving more than 70 nations. These exercises are a key element of the PSI in increasing the interoperability of PSI participants, improving interdiction decision-making processes and procedures, and enhancing the interdiction capacities of all participating states. Following PSI endorsement, Uruguay would have the opportunity to participate actively in the PSI portion of the annual PANAMAX exercise. -- All PSI activities are voluntary and will vary according to an individual country's capabilities and national legal authorities. -- PSI participating states only take actions to stop the trafficking of WMD, their means of delivery, and related materials that are consistent with their national legal authorities and relevant international laws and frameworks. -- If your Government has any comments or questions about the PSI, we would be happy to receive them and respond. End points. RICE