ISN LETTER OF THANKS TO CROATIA PSI PRESENTER

UNCLAS STATE 082967 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL HR SUBJECT: ISN LETTER OF THANKS TO CROATIA PSI PRESENTER REF: A. STATE 023570 ¶B. STATE 069357 ¶1. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: On May 29, 2008, the United States hosted a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Outreach Workshop in Washington, attended by representatives of 21 countries that have not yet endorsed the PSI, as well as most of the 92 PSI participating states. The workshop 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. ¶2. Sanja Bujas Juraga, Department Head, Directorate for International Organizations and Security, Department of International Security, MFA, gave two presentations during the Workshop. In the panel on the PSI exercise program, she made some remarks and showed a video on Croatia's May 2008 PSI exercise "Adriatic Shield." She also gave a presentation on the PSI and export controls as complementary instruments, based on Croatia's experience (copy can be forwarded upon request). ¶3. ACTION REQUESTED: Embassy is requested to deliver under appropriate cover the following letter from Acting Assistant Secretary Patricia McNerney to Ms. Bujas Juraga, thanking her for her presentations. There will be no signed original. ¶4. Begin text of letter: Dear Ms. Bujas Juraga: I would like to thank you for giving two presentations - on the PSI exercise program and on export controls - at the May 29, 2008 Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Outreach Workshop in Washington, DC. Your presentations made an important contribution to the Workshop. I believe the Outreach Workshop was very successful both because it informed states of the many ongoing PSI activities and because it provided states with concrete ways to improve their capabilities to stop WMD-related trafficking. The United States greatly appreciates the significant role that Croatia plays in advancing the PSI's goals, including in outreach. We believe that we must continue PSI outreach, both to encourage more states to endorse the PSI and encourage states that have already endorsed to participate more actively. We look forward to continuing our work together in support of the PSI. Sincerely, Patricia A. McNerney Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation, Department of State ¶5. 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 appreciates Post's assistance. RICE