GERMAN CONCERNS ABOUT INFO SHARING IN THE LEAD-UP

UNCLAS BERLIN 000188 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA PREL TSPL GM SUBJECT: GERMAN CONCERNS ABOUT INFO SHARING IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE SATELLITE COLLISION REF: SECSTATE 12948 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 4 and 5. ¶2. (SBU) Political and Global Affairs officers delivered Ref points simultaneously to interlocutors at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economics on February 12. While expressing appreciation for receipt of the information, contacts noted that the collision of the Russian and Iridium satellites again provide a strong incentive to develop a code of conduct for non-military use of space. ¶3. (SBU) On February 13, GA Officer received a call from Mr. Joachim Marschall, MFA Office Director for International Research, Technology, and Space Policy (Division 405). Marschall said he will be briefing Foreign Minister Steinmeier (possibly today) on the satellite collision. He is interested in more information on the incident and USG mechanisms to inform their foreign partners on space situational awareness activities. ¶4. (SBU) Specifically, Herr Marschall would like to know: A) What is the present USG policy on space surveillance and mechanisms for informing USG partners (Germany)? B) How is this policy institutionalized within the USG? C) Is this policy centralized in the Executive branch and then distributed? D) Which USG entity has primary responsibility on informing global partners on incidents such as the satellite collision or policy updates? NOTE: Post believes Marschall was hinting that Germany, or more specifically the MFA, was not informed of this incident before it happened while assuming that the USG had been tracking this for some time. END NOTE. ¶5. (SBU) Action Request: Post would appreciate any information State can provide to offer greater transparency on this situation as soon as possible. Please contact officers Shane Petersen, Ken Kero, or Donald Brown who will follow up with the USG response. Koenig