OAS-CARICOM UNSCR 1540 WORKSHOP

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000503 SIPDIS VIENNA PASS TO USOSCE VIENNA DEPT PASS TO OAS COLLECTIVE FOR INFO DEPT ALSO PASS TO USCG 7TH DISTRICT DEPARTMENT FOR ISN, WHA, USOAS GEORGETOWN FOR ROLF OLSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL PTER UNSC XL JM SUBJECT: OAS-CARICOM UNSCR 1540 WORKSHOP REF: A. 08 BUENOS AIRES 793 ¶B. 08 STATE 27289 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Washington interagency representatives participated in the Domestic Export Controls and Maritime Security Workshop in Support of the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540) in Kingston June 15-17. This workshop was the result of regional response to UNSC resolutions by the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Participants described the threats facing Caribbean states and provided detailed descriptions of export control and maritime security challenges, and discussed regulatory requirements to address such concerns. A wide range of expert participants emphasized the multiple overlapping benefits of UNSCR 1540 implementation. Participants recognized the nexus of UNSCR 1540 implementation and other regional security challenges. Newly-installed CARICOM 1540 regional coordinator O'Neil Hamilton introduced himself to representatives of the 12 participating governments. All participants expressed satisfaction with the workshop's outcomes. This event served as a platform to launch future UNSCR 1540 capacity-building activities across the region. Embassy hopes that neighboring posts and Washington will seize this chance to follow up on progress. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. UNSCR 1540 obligates all UN Member States to develop and maintain "appropriate, effective" measures to improve their indigenous capacities to counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorist threats. The resolution also established a Committee responsible for implementation (the Committee). In 2008, the Security Council unanimously agreed to UNSCR 1810, renewing the Committee for an additional three years. UNSCR 1810 also outlines funding mechanisms, including voluntary contributions such as those used in support of this workshop. ¶3. With support from the Organization of American States (OAS) and CARICOM, and co-sponsorship by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE),the Henry L. Stimson Center organized the workshop. ;Presenters from North America and across the Caribbean discussed UNSCR 1540 as an opportunity to respond to security and development needs, and focused on practical measures for augmenting export controls and maritime security. The workshop was a follow-up to the May 2007 workshop on implementing UNSCR 1540 in Santo Domingo; the February 2008 meeting of Caribbean states; the May 2008 OAS regional seminar (ref. A); and CARICOM's October 2008 request to the Security Council for legislative technical support, a regional coordinator, and a series of additional technical assistance workshops (ref. B). The United States and Canada have responded to all points of this request. -------------- PROCEEDINGS -------------- ¶4. The June 15-17 workshop incorporated the expertise and substantive guidance of the Committee, and included regional-specific training. The workshop relied on UN Panel of Expert representative Dr. Olivia Bosch, Caribbean officials, concerned private-sector actors, and other relevant trainers. Panel topics included current implementation efforts in the Caribbean, new options for addressing security challenges, and ways to use UNSCR 1540 to institute regulations and export controls. The security-development nexus received particular and repeated emphasis. The complete agenda and presentations are available at www.stimson.org/cnp. ¶5. Key presentations covered UNSCR 1540 compliance to confront Caribbean national security and development challenges, in addition to WMD proliferation in a region where narcotics and small arms fuel gang violence. Panels discussed maritime security from the standpoints of enforcement and private industry. One panel discussed UNSCR as a tool to promote secure trade and economic development. Throughout, presenters emphasized that effective export controls address all these consequential priorities. ¶6. The highlight of the workshop was a tour of the Kingston Container Terminal and Kingston Wharves. This demonstrated the regional security disparities and showcased the need to redouble efforts to strengthen the weakest links in the Caribbean supply chain -- particularly for the smaller eastern Caribbean governments. ¶7. Significant interventions: -- Bosch praised CARICOM states' progress in implementing UNSCR ¶1540. She recommended close collaboration with the regional coordinator and invited additional assistance requests from the region. -- Vice President Linval Bailey of the Port Authority of Jamaica hailed the partnerships promoted by UNSCR 1540 and the Proliferation Security Initiative. In particular, he noted the importance of private sector collaboration in implementing UNSCR 1540 and maintained that this workshop was the first to systematically engage Caribbean industry on UNSCR implementation. -- LCDR Fair Kim, legal counsel to the U.S. Coast Guard's Seventh District, made a multimedia presentation on responding to emerging threats, including semi-submersible vehicles. -- Dr. Basil Picologlou of the DoE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) gave an overview of the global nonproliferation regime, detailing the export control challenge and emphasizing that small nations can make important interceptions. (This added resonance as the project envisions a common national legal framework through the Export Control and Related Border Security funding.) -- Monte Mallin, Director of NNSA's Office of Global Security Engagement and Cooperation, noted that consensus on the importance of partnership and collective action. He also praised CARICOM for taking this important step and noted that other regional organizations are looking at the CARICOM example as a model. -------------- MAINTAINING MOMENTUM -------------- ¶8. Some outcomes were a more practical understanding of UNSCR 1540 obligations, increased buy-in, and a heightened awareness of the multiple benefits of UNSCR 1540 compliance, which, inter alia, include strengthening states against illicit drugs, small arms, and human trafficking. National points of contact will be solidified across all CARICOM governments within the next 60 days. ¶9. Participants appreciated the opportunity to meet the newly-appointed CARICOM UNSCR 1540 coordinator, and agreed with him that the workshop exceeded their expectations. Hamilton plans follow-up visits to each of the 12 countries within the next eight months. After the workshop, Hamilton remarked that it was "a definite success and that participants left the workshop enthused and more focused." He was particularly pleased with the attendance and the quality of discussions. According to Hamilton, the workshop achieved its objective of ensuring that industry would play a meaningful role in the discussion, and comprehend the necessity to forge real partnerships with governments in the UNSCR 1540 implementation process. Hamilton is now able to work directly with national points of contact. He viewed the broad participation as a sign of how seriously Caribbean states are taking the resolution. ¶10. Next steps: The workshop presents Caribbean posts with an opportunity to follow through with CARICOM, host governments, and with workshop participants directly in identifying ways to further implementation of UNSCR 1540. Embassy would like to encourage follow-through on the success of this workshop by redoubling efforts in regional training and technical assistance programs, including legislative assistance. We hope Washington and Caribbean posts also will monitor activities of the regional coordinator over the next year, and observe the responses of CARICOM Member States to USG outreach. Washington and New York may wish to remain attuned to further requests for assistance with the implementation of UNSCR ¶1540. ¶11. U.S. 1540 Coordinator Thomas A. Wuchte has cleared this report. MOSS