UNSCR 1540 -- ASSISTANCE REQUESTS, MATRICES,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 097955 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AORC KPAO PTER UNSC SUBJECT: UNSCR 1540 -- ASSISTANCE REQUESTS, MATRICES, WORKSHOP DOCUMENTS -- COMMITTEE TRANSPARENCY REF: A. EMAIL WUCHTE/DONOVAN (2 SEPTEMBER 2008) ¶B. IRAQ NOTE VERBALE (2 APRIL 2008) ¶C. STATE 43490 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ) PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (U) This is an action request for USUN, see paras 7 and ¶8. ¶2. (SBU) Summary. Washington has now completed review of a letter that the Committee drafted and presented for formal UN adoption, addressing UN Member States' requests for technical assistance pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. Although Washington is strongly supportive of a process to elicit technical assistance requests, the review revealed that the letter did not incorporate basic decisions agreed upon in 2007, nor did it fully take into account views from various capitals. As the United States is the most likely assistance provider for the expected requests, it is critical that USUN re-engage the Committee on issues of process and procedure. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) Background for Post only. Per Ref A, the 1540 Committee has agreed on four of six decisions related to answering and providing technical assistance: 1) procedures for providing assistance; 2) posting offers of assistance; 3) posting assistance requests; 4) sharing lessons learned. In addition, the Committee expressed its intention to post additional country reports, matrices, and workshop results, but has not determined the procedure to routinely do so upon receipt. The information was to be used so all Member States would have a common baseline. In parallel, the Committee was to promote the use of the assistance template to better refine the requests received through the initial reports from states in 2004-08. Washington is concerned that, until there is some formal publication of procedures implementing these steps, we risk sending a letter out without clear agreement in the Committee. ¶4. (SBU) Committee procedure is also called into question by its apparent failure to circulate an Iraqi request for assistance transmitted via a note verbale sent to the Committee in April 2008. On August 28, 2008, Iraq officials approached Embassy Baghdad regarding the status of this note (Ref B). There is no indication that this request has been received by the donor community. (Comment. Washington notes that this request was received during the intense period 
concerning the Committee's renewal and mandated implementation report. Therefore, we want to make clear that we are interested in clarifying the process and not pointing out whether the Committee properly processed this particular request. End comment.) ¶5. (U) The points in Ref C reflect Washington and USG views on the Committee and UNSCR 1540 in general going forward. End background for Post only. ¶6. (SBU) Note for Embassy Baghdad. Washington is reviewing its options in light of the recent Iraqi note verbale; additional time is needed to identify strategies and, if a positive decision is made, funding sources. U.S. engagement in Iraq in this area has been limited so far, including through the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program's provision of equipment to Iraqi Customs and Iraq participation in regional and international events. End note for Embassy Baghdad. STATE 00097955 002 OF 002 OBJECTIVES ¶7. (SBU) In order to better facilitate Committee functioning and assistance requests, Washington requests USUN to pursue the following objectives: -- Request that the Committee finalize the posting of all six of these decisions on the 1540 website by mid-October ) so they can be reflected in the 2009 program of work. -- Impress upon the Chairman and other 1540 Committee Members the need to circulate documents as soon as received. -- Inquire whether there are additional recent requests such as the Iraqi note verbale that have gone unanswered and are yet to be circulated for coordination (above and beyond the requests drawn from 2004-08 country reports that are already posted on the website and with which the Committee intends to follow up through its draft letter that Washington seeks further edits on with these instructions). -- Work with other delegations, particularly the UK and France, to provide for Washington review an updated letter back to states who have requested assistance in their report that reflects the agreed Committee decisions in Ref A at the earliest opportunity, but NLT September 30. -- Ask the Committee Chair to announce a meeting date at the conclusion of the General Assembly and before October 8 to discuss the posting of matrices, country reports, and workshop documents. ¶8. (U) Reporting deadline. Post is requested to demarche these objectives and report responses before September 30. POINT OF CONTACT ¶9. (U) Please contact U.S. 1540 Coordinator Tom Wuchte at (202) 736-4275 for any further background. RICE