MALAYSIA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL PIRACY CONFERENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000193 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, L, DS, PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHSA MARR EWWT MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA TO HOST INTERNATIONAL PIRACY CONFERENCE MAY 18-19 REF: STATE 15444 ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Comment: Malaysia has officially invited United States participation in a May 18-19 "International Conference on Piracy and Crimes at Sea" hosted by the Foreign Ministry. The conference aims to share experiences in the Straits of Malacca and Southeast Asia in support of the global effort to combat piracy, according to the diplomatic note we received. The conference is in line with Malaysia's expressed interest in taking a more active role in international anti-piracy efforts, including its desire to join the anti-piracy Contact Group (reftel). Future Prime Minister Najib, who reportedly is behind Malaysia's consideration of more active roles in anti-piracy efforts, is expected to deliver the keynote address. Post believes conference participation warrants positive USG consideration as it supports our policy objectives of strengthening regional maritime security and encouraging Malaysia to contribute more fully to international security concerns. End Summary and Comment. The Conference Program -------------- ¶2. (U) The tentative program was described in a diplomatic note (CU 102/09) received March 12, which post has scanned and forwarded electronically to EAP/MTS. The program as outlined envisions an opening ceremony the morning of May 18 with a keynote address by the Prime Minister. The program includes seven sessions, spread over two days, as follows: (1) overview of the global piracy situation; (2) piracy in Somalia; (3) industry's response to piracy; (4) legal issues; (5) regional best practices to combat crimes at sea: Straits of Malacca and the Caribbean; (6) sharing the costs of combating piracy amongst stakeholders; (7) panel discussion - lessons learned. Invitees and Presenters -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Ministry's note invites the U.S. to nominate participants for the conference. The conference organizer, Dr. Ahmad Faisal, MFA Undersecretary for Research, Treaty and International Law Division, informed us that invitations to attend also have been extended to all ASEAN nations, the UN, IMO, EU, the European Commission, France, Italy, Yemen, Djibouti, and Somalia. The Ministry has solicited presenters, whether officials or academics, from the UK, Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, IMO, UN, and Indonesia. We contacted embassy counterparts from Australia, the UK, France, and Singapore, and all confirmed that they are inclined to support Malaysia's initiative. These embassies are awaiting further details about the conference and are consulting with their capitals. MFA on Desired U.S. Participation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ahmad informed us that the Ministry is particularly interested in locating U.S. presenters for Session five of the conference, comparing experiences in the SOM with those in the Caribbean. He emphasized interest in presenters from the State Department Legal Bureau to discuss legal mechanisms, such as harmonizing domestic and international laws, and from the U.S. Coast Guard to provide expertise on anti-crime surveillance and enforcement. More broadly, Ahmad welcomed U.S. suggestions for presenters for any other KUALA LUMP 00000193 002 OF 002 sessions, including that on Somalia piracy. U.S. Response -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Embassy encourages positive consideration by Washington of the Malaysian request for U.S. participation in the conference as it supports our policy objectives of strengthening regional maritime security and encouraging Malaysia to contribute more fully to international security concerns. Embassy Kuala Lumpur POC is Jason Donovan (DonovanJ@state.gov or DonovanJA@state.sgov.gov). KEITH