ROK PROPOSES TO HOST GICNT PLENARY IN 2011-2012

UNCLAS SEOUL 001632 SIPDIS ISN/WMDT, EAP/K E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KGICKS SUBJECT: ROK PROPOSES TO HOST GICNT PLENARY IN 2011-2012 REF: STATE 83550 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Post requests guidance on the questions below received from ROKG. ¶2. (U) On October 13, PolOff met with Park Eun-jin, Disarmament and Nonproliferation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to deliver reftel joint demarche with Nikolay Fokin, 1st Secretary, Russian Embassy. PolOff informed Park that the next Exercise Planning Group (EPG) Meeting has been postponed until January 2010. Park speculated that a representative from the ROK Embassy in Budapest would attend. ¶3. (U) Park then stated that the ROK would like to host an upcoming plenary of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT),either in 2011 or 2012. Along with the plenary, the ROK would also like to conduct a series of events and exercises for GICNT partners. Park asked if any other country had expressed interest in hosting the next plenary, and what the procedure is for choosing a host country. ¶4. (U) Park raised a proposal put forth during the last EPG meeting and plenary that the co-chairs provide an incentive for countries to host meetings and events by offering assistance to those countries. The assistance could be technical or administrative in nature. The ROK inquired whether any country has been able to benefit from this incentive program so far, and whether there is a concept paper or other document outlining how the incentive program process works. Park said the ROK would be interested in receiving U.S. assistance and expertise in planning such a large event. STEPHENS