MAY 2009 PSI OPERATIONAL EXPERTS GROUP AND

UNCLAS STATE 132842 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL XL XM SUBJECT: MAY 2009 PSI OPERATIONAL EXPERTS GROUP AND OUTREACH MEETINGS: SAVE THE DATE NOTICE SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The U.S. will host a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Operational Experts Group (OEG) meeting and a PSI Outreach meeting on May 12-14, 2009 in Miami, FL. The OEG meeting will take place on May 12-13, and the Outreach meeting will take place on May 14. In an effort to implement the principles expressed in the Washington Declaration adopted by PSI partners at the PSI Fifth Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting in Washington, DC on May 28, 2008, the U.S. will also invite PSI-endorsing countries from the Western Hemisphere to attend this OEG (Belize, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and The Bahamas),along with additional countries from the region that endorse the PSI before the meeting. A networking reception for all delegates to both meetings will take place on the evening of May 13. The OEG will explore global and regional dimensions of the PSI and WMD-related interdictions, and will provide participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas with international counterparts in the policy, operational, legal, law enforcement, and intelligence communities. The Outreach meeting on May 14 will be open to all invited non-endorsing countries in the Western Hemisphere. The purpose of the Outreach meeting is to provide information about the PSI, and encourage countries to endorse the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles. END SUMMARY OBJECTIVES AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶2. Key U.S. objectives for the OEG and Outreach meetings are: -- improve understanding of global and regional security issues related to countering trafficking in WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials; -- increase partners' PSI-related knowledge and capabilities; -- provide information on PSI operational concepts and capacity-building opportunities; -- encourage the endorsement of the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles by additional states. ¶3. Embassies are requested to notify host governments of the upcoming meetings and urge their representation at an appropriate level. Countries that endorse the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles prior to May 12 will be invited to attend the OEG meeting on May 12-13. Non-endorsing countries are encouraged to attend the Outreach meeting on May 14 and the networking reception on the evening of May 13. Please forward any host government questions or suggestions to Washington for reply. REPORTING DEADLINE AND POC -------------- ¶4. All action addressee embassies are requested to deliver the "save the date" non-paper in para 5 below to host governments by January 14, 2009, and report delivery by January 16, 2009. Please slug responses for ISN and T. Email replies to POCs are acceptable, following delivery of below non-paper. Non-substantive delivery messages and any questions may be directed to Carlos Guzman (202-647-6320), guzmancs@state.(sgov).gov and Beth Flores (703-692-0147),beth.flores@osd.(smil).mil. The department appreciates Embassies' assistance. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶5. Begin text of U.S. non-paper: We wish to inform your government that the United States will host a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Operational Experts Group (OEG) meeting on May 12-13, 2009 and a PSI Outreach meeting on May 14, 2008 in Miami, FL. The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) will co-host the OEG meeting. This message is to encourage your government to "save the date" so that your government can be appropriately represented at the meetings. Additional registration details will follow in a subsequent message. In an effort to implement the principles expressed in the Washington Declaration adopted at the PSI Fifth Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting in Washington, DC on May 28, 2008, the U.S. would also like to invite countries from the Americas that have endorsed the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles to attend the OEG meeting on May 12-13. The May 14 Outreach meeting will be open to countries from the Western Hemisphere that have not yet endorsed the PSI. A networking reception for all delegates to both meetings will take place on the evening of May 13. The OEG is a forum for government experts from various agencies to share practical information on WMD proliferation, develop methods and mechanisms to interdict illicit WMD-related shipments, and explore related concepts in the legal, law enforcement, and intelligence arenas. We encourage governments to send delegations that represent the ministries that are involved in international security-related decision making. Typically, PSI OEG delegations are comprised of 3-8 officials led by a 1-star equivalent government official, from the Ministry of Defense (MOD) or Foreign Affairs (MFA). Experts in the following areas could have something to contribute to OEG discussions: international and customs law, operational intelligence, law enforcement and customs operations, border security, international trade and finance, exercise planning, and policy/diplomacy. The objectives of the PSI OEG meeting are: -- to further develop operational concepts to stop trafficking in WMD, delivery systems, and related materials using law enforcement and customs, legal, military, and diplomatic means; -- to improve understanding of global and regional security issues related to trafficking in WMD, delivery systems, and related materials; -- to provide partners with capacity-building opportunities related to air/land/maritime interdiction of WMD-related cargoes going to and from state and non-state actors of proliferation concern; -- to strengthen working relationships among PSI partners at the operational level. In early 2009, we will issue a formal invitation to your government, including a preliminary agenda, information on registration, hotel accommodations, and other details about the meeting. The United States, working with PSI partners around the world, is pleased to host this event. We are looking forward to your government's active participation. End of U.S. non-paper. RICE