Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN188
2009-02-13 15:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN CONCERNS ABOUT INFO SHARING IN THE LEAD-UP
how-toVZCZCXRO1917 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHRL #0188 0441533 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 131533Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3314 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2014 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0704 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1439 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
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
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
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