Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE29766
2008-03-21 17:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT BY WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Tags:  MNUC PARM PHSA PREL KNNP XL XM 
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VZCZCXYZ0014
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DE RUEHC #9766 0811736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 211730Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
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UNCLAS STATE 029766 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MNUC PARM PHSA PREL KNNP XL XM
SUBJECT: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT BY WESTERN HEMISPHERE
COUNTRIES PRIOR TO MAY 2008 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

REF: A. 07 STATE 071281 (NOTAL)

B. 07 STATE 090345 (NOTAL)

--------------------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------------------

UNCLAS STATE 029766

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MNUC PARM PHSA PREL KNNP XL XM
SUBJECT: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT BY WESTERN HEMISPHERE
COUNTRIES PRIOR TO MAY 2008 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

REF: A. 07 STATE 071281 (NOTAL)

B. 07 STATE 090345 (NOTAL)

--------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------


1. The U.S. is hosting two events in Washington on May
28-29, 2008 on the occasion of the Fifth Anniversary of the
establishment of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).
First announced by President Bush at Krakow, Poland, this
initiative is one of the hallmarks of the Administration's
efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass
destructions. A Senior-Level Meeting on the first day will
take stock of the first five years of the PSI and discuss the
way forward to further strengthen the Initiative. This
meeting will be open only to those countries that have
endorsed the PSI. The second day will be an outreach
workshop with informational briefings for countries that have
not endorsed the PSI, as well as those that have endorsed but
may lack information on all the available participation
opportunities.


2. In advance of these May events, Washington is seeking to
increase the number of countries that endorse the PSI
Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP) (text is available
at www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm) by conducting targeted
outreach in key states and underrepresented regions,
including Latin America. A number of Latin American
countries have shown an interest in the PSI, but for various
reasons have not made a final decision to endorse.


3. WHA ACTION ADDRESSEES are requested to engage host
governments again (See Refs A and B) about endorsing the PSI
Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP) (BRIDGETOWN for
all the countries under your purview). Posts are requested
to approach highest appropriate levels of host government and
urge endorsement of the PSI SOP. In particular, please
inform host governments that they must endorse the PSI in
order to participate in the Senior-Level Meeting on May 28,
which will set the direction for the PSI in future years.
Posts may draw from points in paragraph 6, which also may be
left as a non-paper. Posts should leave the letter from A/S

Shannon in paragraph 7 and may leave the sample diplomatic
note in paragraph 8 with host government.


4. EMBASSIES MADRID, OTTAWA, LISBON, and LONDON are
requested to notify host governments of U.S. efforts to urge
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru,
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, and Uruguay to participate in the PSI, and to
pass copies of the non-paper in paragraph 6 for their
information. Washington will also discuss possible joint
outreach efforts with the Washington-based representatives of
these governments.

--------------
REPORTING DEADLINE
--------------


5. Please report delivery of cable and any immediate
response by COB March 28, 2008. E-mail replies are
acceptable, but we do need confirmation that host governments
have received this approach. Please also continue to report
reactions as received.

--------------
BACKGROUND/NONPAPER
--------------


6. Begin points:

-- May 2008 marks the Fifth Anniversary of the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI).

-- In the five years since its inception, over 85 countries
from every region of the world have endorsed the PSI
Statement of Interdiction Principles.

-- As a result, the PSI has become the hallmark of strong
nonproliferation credentials.

-- To date, the PSI partners have conducted over 30
operational interdiction training exercises (air, maritime,
and ground) 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. The PSI
partner states continue to work together by sharing
information, conducting exercises, and carrying out
interdictions that improve our ability and readiness to
disrupt and counter proliferation activities.

-- We would welcome your Government's participation in the
PSI. By endorsing the PSI Statement of Interdiction, your
government will undertake a political commitment to stop WMD
trafficking within the constraints of your national
capabilities and legal authorities. Other regional neighbors
who participate in the PSI include Chile, Argentina,
Paraguay, Panama, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras.

-- The United States is hosting a meeting of senior policy
makers from all PSI endorsing states in Washington on May 28
to mark the PSI's Fifth Anniversary. The participants will
review the PSI's results so far and exchange ideas for
strengthening it further for the future. Your government's
endorsement of the PSI before then would enable it to
participate in this meeting.

-- We will also host a PSI outreach workshop the following
day in the same location. The workshop will include
informational briefings on the broad range of available PSI
participation opportunities. This outreach workshop on May
29 will be open to all countries to attend. Your government
may wish to send representatives from your capital to this
event, although representatives from your embassy in
Washington would also be welcome. The invitation and
logistical information for this PSI workshop will be provided
in the near future.

-- We urge your government to endorse the PSI Statement of
Interdiction through a diplomatic note to the United States
or another PSI partner state prior to the Fifth Anniversary
Meeting.

-- Participation in the PSI is also a signal that a state
takes its UN Security Council obligations seriously,
including those under UNSCR 1540. This resolution identified
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as a
threat to international peace and security. It also
identified cooperative efforts as one way in which states
could cooperate to counter WMD and missile proliferation.

-- PSI participants have quietly cooperated to stop shipments
of technology related to weapons of mass destruction and
their delivery means.

-- These actions have been taken voluntarily and in all cases
fully consistent with national legal authorities and relevant
international law and frameworks.

-- The PSI does not in any way conflict with international
law. To the contrary, the PSI Statement of Interdiction
Principles, which participating states endorse to become PSI
participants, explicitly states that participants commit to
interdiction principles "consistent with national legal
authorities and relevant international law and frameworks,
including the UN Security Council."

-- Participation in any PSI activity is voluntary. If a
state believes it does not have the legal authorities or
capability to act in a specific case, it may decline to
participate.

-- The Statement of Interdiction Principles does not entail
any legal or operational obligations. Nonetheless,
endorsement of the Statement of Principles provides a clear
indication of a country's strong nonproliferation
credentials, and also acts as a strong deterrent to
proliferators seeking to abuse states' sovereign territory by
trafficking WMD and missile-related materials and items.

--------------
LETTER FROM ASSISTANT SECRETARY
--------------


7. Begin text of PSI letter from A/S Shannon:

(Insert appropriate salutation)

May 2008 marks the Fifth Anniversary of President Bush's
announcement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
in Krakow, Poland. On this occasion, the United States is
hosting the PSI Fifth Anniversary Conference May 28-29, 2008,
in Washington, D.C. I write to you to encourage your
government to endorse the PSI Statement of Interdiction
Principles prior to the Fifth Anniversary Conference.

A Senior-Level Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 28, for
all PSI endorsing governments. The focus of this meeting
will be to review the Initiative's results and successes over
the last five years and look at ways to continue
strengthening the PSI for the future. By first endorsing the
PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles, your government
would then be able to participate in this meeting.

On Thursday, May 29, the workshop will be open to both PSI
endorsing states and states considering endorsement. It will
provide detailed information on the broad range of PSI
activities and share best practices and tools that have been
developed to assist countries with implementing their
commitment to the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles.
We encourage participation in this workshop by experts in the
defense, legal, law enforcement and customs, operational and
intelligence communities.

Greater participation by Latin American states in the PSI
will strengthen the region's security against trafficking in
weapons of mass destruction. The capacity-building exercises
and other cooperation conducted by the PSI nations also
provide secondary benefits in improving capabilities against
all illegal trafficking and transshipments. I urge your
government to seriously consider endorsing the PSI, and if
you decide to do so, provide a diplomatic note to that effect.

I look forward to your government's positive response and
your participation in the PSI Fifth Anniversary events.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Shannon
Assistant Secretary of State for
Western Hemisphere Affairs

--------------

SAMPLE DIPLOMATIC NOTE
--------------


8. Begin text of sample diplomatic note endorsing the PSI:

The Government of (country) welcomes and fully supports the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and the 4 September
2003 Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP).

This endorsement reflects (country's) willingness to
cooperate in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction (WMD),their means of delivery and related
materials. (Country) is committed to upholding the PSI SOP
and looks forward to participating, to the extent possible,
in future PSI-related activities.

(Additional language on your government's commitment to
non-proliferation and particular efforts your government
would like to undertake, etc., may be inserted as desired.)

End Sample Diplomatic Note.

--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------


9. Washington points of contact for follow-up information
are Carlos Guzman, ISN/CPI, and Jane Purcell, ISN/CPI.
Please slug all responses for ISN, T, and WHA. Washington
greatly appreciates Posts' assistance.
RICE