MULTILATERAL "COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

UNCLAS STATE 102073 SENSITIVE SIPDIS, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KHLS UK SP GM FR IT AS CA, NL, DA SUBJECT: MULTILATERAL "COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM (CVE)" WORKSHOP, NOVEMBER 4-6, 2009 ¶1. Action Request - See Para 9. ¶2. (SBU) The Secretary's Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism is pleased to announce a three-day "Multinational Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Planners Workshop" from Wednesday, November 4-Friday, November 6, 2009 in Washington, D.C. This workshop will focus on: -- coordinating current efforts to counter violent extremism with Allies; -- discussing a common approach and developing a multinational framework for a CVE Common Operating Picture; -- facilitating the establishment of a multinational CVE network; -- developing a multinational CVE Capacity Assessment and Building methodology; -- identifying collaboration opportunities and best practices; and -- validating objectives for related regional workshops. ¶3. The workshop will be hosted at the George C. Marshall Conference Center at the Harry S. Truman Building (Main State). S/CT invites representatives from the following countries to participate: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and The United Kingdom. Program Overview ¶4. (SBU) S/CT will host a series of CVE Collaborative Workshops to bring together senior counterterrorism officials and CVE practitioners and planners from partner nations to focus on the topics listed in paragraph one. Phase I of this series will take place from November 4-6 and will include participants from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. This workshop will be followed by a series of regionally- focused workshops; the first will be held February 8-12, 2010, and will focus on South and Central Asia. The February workshop will include representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. ¶5. (SBU) Key workshop objectives are to: -discuss varying frameworks and methodologies for Countering Violent Extremism and discuss a common strategic approach for multinational efforts -discuss and share CVE best practices; identify areas of potential collaboration -develop a multinational CVE capacity building model and assessment methodology to allow application in participating countries -develop a multinational CVE Common Operating Picture; discuss and identify a CVE information sharing platform ¶6. (SBU) Expected Outcomes: The workshops are expected to facilitate an exchange of information and enhance awareness of multinational and partner nation efforts to counter violent extremism, as well as identify and assess gaps in these efforts and to enable further and sustained effort through a networking of practitioners and resources. This effort will ultimately result in a more coordinated, effective, and sustained effort to counter violent extremism on a regional and global basis. The fostering of greater bilateral and regional cooperation with the U.S. and partner governments, and facilitating further capabilities and actions may be the most important outcomes. ¶7. (SBU) Participants: Participants should be practitioners at the Director level who are actively engaged in CVE planning and coordination (either domestically or internationally) within their respective governments. The workshop will be conducted entirely in English; therefore, language ability may be a consideration in selecting participants. ¶8. (U) Funding: Unfortunately, S/CT does not have funding for participant travel or accommodations for this conference. ¶9. (SBU) Action Request: Drawing on language in Paras 2 and 5 above, Posts are requested to approach host governments and encourage participation in the November 4-6 workshop. Participants should be identified prior to 20 October. Prospective participants' names, titles, responsibilities, and English language capabilities should be communicated to: David Painter, S/CT, the primary Point of Contact for this event (202- 647-1413 or painterdl@state.gov); and secondary Points of Contact Rhonda Shore (202-647-1845, shorerh2@state.gov) and Steve Carney (202-647-1415, carneysl@state.gov). 10.(U) Department appreciates Posts assistance with this effort. CLINTON