NATO BRIEFS UN SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001002

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY (PARA 3 MARKING)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER UNGA PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: NATO BRIEFS UN SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
COUNTER TERRORISM ACTIVITIES


1. (U) At a Counter-terrorism Committee (CTC) meeting, October
30, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs
and Security Policy Martin Erdmann told SC members that NATO
is taking a concrete and practical approach to countering
terrorism. He reported that coordination of NATO members
military capabilities is only a small segment of the
activities undertaken by NATO to counter terrorism. Erdmann
said that NATO's overarching counter-terrorism strategy
incorporates political, economic, legal, military and social
elements of the problem. The fight against terrorism is not
mainly a military task but primarily a civilian task which
must engage all of these elements.


2. (U) Erdmann told the Committee that in addition to NATO's 26
members and two states which will join (Albania and Croatia)
NATO has a dialogue with countries in North Africa and Gulf
states of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE. Australia, New
Zealand, Japan and Korea also have a special relationship
with NATO on CT issues. He said that non-military activities
include intelligence sharing and focus on strategic and
non-military analysis. A civil emergency action plan is an
important component of NATO's strategy. NATO is currently
engaged in civil emergency action planning to provide rapid
reaction in case of an attack using chemical biological or
nuclear weapons.


3. (SBU) NATO is also looking at ways to utilize technology to
confront new challenges such as MANPADS, which pose a severe
threat to aviation. Technology is also being used to protect
harbors and ships, detect chemical weapons and counter car
and roadside bombings. They are also developing a model
situation center to counter eco-terrorism. He noted that the
Mediterranean is the safest sea (as measured by insurance
rates). Erdmann also described the International Security
Assistance Force's (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan which is
working to eliminate "safe havens" for terrorists. He said
that in Afghanistan NATO is using the comprehensive approach
(political, economic, legal, etc.) Security is an important
factor. This is linked to poverty and lack of
infrastructure, so these elements must be addressed. NATO
provides security for those building roads and power plants
as part of infrastructure renewal. NATO also wants to
contribute to the fight against piracy, through the Security
Council's resolutions, by protecting the security of the
region around Somalia.


4. (U) Erdmann asked, "How can we assist the UN in capacity
building?" We invite states to use the Ankara Center which
provides practical training. He also referred to NATO's
cyber defense program and their computer emergency response
teams. Comment: This presentation was very well received by
the Committee which seemed to be impressed with the
energetic, well organized and pragmatic approach which NATO
is taking in its counter-terrorism program. End Comment
Khalilzad