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