UNSCR 1540 -- IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION FOR 1540

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 110381 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KPAO EUE PREL PTER UNSC EUN SUBJECT: UNSCR 1540 -- IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION FOR 1540 COMMITTEE COOPERATION ALONGSIDE EUROPEAN UNION REF: INTERAGENCY ACQUISITION AGREEMENT ¶1. This is an action request for USEU, see para 3, and USUN, see paras 4, 5, and 6. ¶2. Background. UNSCR 1540 (2004) obligates all states to develop and maintain "appropriate, effective" measures to improve their indigenous capacities to counter WMD proliferation and terrorist threats. In 2008, the Security Council unanimously agreed to UNSCR 1810, which renewed the 1540 Committee responsible for implementing the resolution for an additional three years. UNSCR 1540 Committee funding mechanisms, including voluntary contributions, are addressed in Operative Paragraph 13 (OP 13) of UNSCR 1810. The European Union provides funding to the 1540 Committee through a joint action that funds UN-level outreach at about 400K Euro between 2008-10. As a co-sponsor of UNSCR 1810, Washington is now planning activities (i.e., payment in kind) which support the 1540 Committee. (REFTEL) End background. ¶3. In furtherance of USG goals, USEU is asked to demarche the EU Council and Commission using the following points. Points may be left as a non-paper. See also REFTEL. -- We have determined that an in-kind contribution is the most effective way for the United States to complement the European Union Joint Action that is providing approximately 400K Euro for 6 regional outreach workshops. -- With funding from the U.S. State Department,s Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS),Sandia National Laboratories will plan and implement workshops in support of UN resolution 1540. The U.S. 1540 coordinator, along with Sandia National Labs, will coordinate with the UN 1540 Committee Panel of Experts and United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA),along with the National Security Council and all other agencies involved in UNSCR 1540 implementation (e.g., Energy, Defense, Treasury, Commerce) to determine the most effective workshop topics and locales. -- U.S. contributions in kind will have the following characteristics: (1) clearly defined goals keyed to the needs of each specific country with whom work is contemplated; (2) non duplicative activities; and (3) measurable and recorded outcomes. In regard to implementation, the USG is committed to: -- Supporting submission of a technical assistance template requests by participating States. -- Assisting with the creation of a national implementation plan for each State in attendance, if such assistance is requested. -- Providing a mechanism to facilitate easy development of essential elements in a national implementation plan. Looking toward increased coordination with the UN 1540 Committee, the USG will: -- Plan, organize and conduct up to five (5) UNSCR 1540 Regional Workshops. -- Provide guarantees for interagency review and approval of the proposed agendas and recommended participants for each UNSCR 1540 Regional Workshop. -- Make all logistics arrangements for each Regional Workshop (e.g., venue, audiovisual support, interpreter STATE 00110381 002 OF 002 support/equipment; participant travel, lodging and per diem). ¶4. Washington also requests that USUN pursue the following objectives which are considered essential to our further funding of 1540 nonproliferation implementation programs in cooperation with the United Nations 1540 Committee. -- Coordinate with UN 1540 Committee Panel of Experts and UN ODA for a one-time site visit to Sandia in November by the U.S. 1540 Coordinator, a representative from the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration who can speak authoritatively to 1540 implementation, and at least one officer each from the Committee Panel of Experts and UNODA. (Note: This is the most cost-effective planning approach given labor rates for Sandia. The UN Expert and ODA travel is to be borne from UN funds and not/not out of this contract. End note.) -- Concurrently, announce at the next available opportunity this USG contribution in-kind to the 1540 Committee. Prepare a press announcement for Washington review drawing on the text in paragraph 5. Issue a press release. ¶5. Suggested text for press announcement to be drafted by USUN for Public Diplomacy outreach. Begin text As a co-sponsor of UNSCR 1810 and Operative Paragraph 13, Washington is now planning activities (payment in kind) which support the 1540 Committee. On this basis, the United States will coordinate and arrange regional workshops aimed at improving the implementation of UNSCR 1540. These workshops will be provided to assist States in regions such as South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan),or other regions as deemed appropriate by the United States and the UNSCR 1540 Committee. The U.S. Government, through the U.S. 1540 Coordinator and with the assistance of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) will coordinate with the UN 1540 Committee of Experts to provide for training focused on issues of awareness and/or implementation of UNSCR 1540, as appropriate for each region. Each workshop will promote sharing of lessons learned from developing national implementation plans, implementing national measures and preparing national reports. Specific workshop topics will be determined by the U.S. Government in close coordination with the UN 1540 Committee and include implementation issues of greatest concern to States in the particular region. These workshops will incorporate the expertise and substantive guidance of the United Nations 1540 Committee and shall coordinate training and workshop activities with the State Department, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the U.S. 1540 Coordinator. Workshops will rely on UN 1540 Committee experts, trainers, and training materials to the maximum extent possible in actually implementing training within countries and regions. This work plan will be announced at the United Nations as a direct contribution-in-kind to the 1540 Committee in accordance with Operative Paragraph 13 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1810. End text ¶6. Reporting deadline. Post support is greatly appreciated Washington requests a response NLT October 22. POINT OF CONTACT ¶7. Please contact U.S. 1540 Coordinator Tom Wuchte at (202) 736-4275 for any further background. RICE