ISN THANK-YOU LETTER FOR ATTENDANCE AT PSI

UNCLAS STATE 068499

SIPDIS
BRIDGETOWN FOR BARBADOS ONLY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL XX
SUBJECT: ISN THANK-YOU LETTER FOR ATTENDANCE AT PSI
OUTREACH WORKSHOP

REF: STATE 044509


1. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: the United States extended an
invitation to attend a one-day Outreach Workshop on the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) hosted by the United
States in Washington on May 29, 2008 (reftel). This
workshop, open to both PSI endorsing states and states that
have not endorsed, provided detailed information on the broad
range of PSI activities and tools that have been developed
for training, organizing for, and conducting interdictions of
shipments of proliferation concern. The Workshop provided
information to representatives attending from the embassies
of 22 countries that have not yet endorsed the PSI, as well
as most of the PSI endorsing states. This cable is addressed
to those countries that have not yet endorsed or fully
committed to the PSI.


2. OBJECTIVES AND ACTION REQUESTED: Washington wishes to
thank the non-endorsing countries that attended our PSI
Outreach Workshop and for embassies to continue conducting
outreach to encourage the non-endorsing countries to
officially endorse the PSI. Embassies are requested to
deliver the following letter from Acting Assistant Secretary
Patricia McNerney under appropriate letterhead to her closest
counterpart in host government Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
There will be no signed original.


3. Begin text of letter from Acting A/S McNerney:

(Insert appropriate salutation)

I would like to extend my thanks to your Government for
attending the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
Outreach Workshop that I chaired in Washington, DC on May 29,

2008.

The goal of the Outreach Workshop was to inform states about
the many activities going on under the PSI, and identify ways
states can improve their capabilities to stop weapons of mass
destruction (WMD)-related trafficking. I hope your
Government found the Workshop useful and informative, and
that it helps you in your further consideration of the PSI.
We would be happy to receive any comments or follow-up
questions on the PSI that your Government may have.

(For all addressees except Bahamas, Azerbaijan, and Brunei:)
On behalf of the U.S. Government, I once again 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 participating state.

(For Bahamas only:) We welcome the decision of the
Government of the Bahamas to approve the bilateral PSI
shipboarding agreement, and we recognize that signature of
this agreement will also represent your Government's official
endorsement of the PSI.

(For Azerbaijan only:) I would like also to thank you for
your decision to send a delegation to the May 28 PSI Senior
Level Meeting. We welcomed Azerbaijan's attendance at this
important meeting, which was a milestone for the Initiative.
The United States is providing you separately a summary of
the May 28 PSI Senior-Level Meeting as well as the May 29
Outreach Workshop. We believe these meetings will have
reassured your Government regarding the benefits of PSI
participation, its fully voluntary nature, and its broad
support from countries around the world. On behalf of the
U.S. Government, I once again urge your Government to provide
confirmation of Azerbaijan's endorsement of the PSI Statement
of Interdiction Principles.

(For Brunei only:) Since your Government participated in the
2006 PSI High-Level Political Meeting and was thereby
considered to be a PSI participant, the United States is
providing you separately a summary of the May 28 PSI
Senior-Level Meeting as well as the May 29 Outreach Workshop.
We believe these meetings convincingly showed the benefits
of PSI participation, and we hope Brunei's representative to
the May 29 event found that meeting informative and of value.
On behalf of the U.S. Government, I once again urge your
Government to provide confirmation that Brunei Darussalam
endorses the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. McNerney
Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security and
Nonproliferation
Department of State

End text of letter.


4. POINTS OF CONTACT: Washington points of contact on the
PSI are Jane Purcell, e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov ,
202-647-6186; and Carlos Guzman, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov ,
202-647-6320. Department much appreciates Post's assistance.
RICE