Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE97955
2008-09-12 19:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
UNSCR 1540 -- ASSISTANCE REQUESTS, MATRICES,
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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
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
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