GICNT: RESPONSE REQUESTING UNITED KINGDOM,S

UNCLAS STATE 111689 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KTER SUBJECT: GICNT: RESPONSE REQUESTING UNITED KINGDOM,S PRESENCE AT JANUARY 2010 EPG MEETING REF: REF: LONDON 2339 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3 and ¶4. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: The Department is concerned that the United Kingdom might not send a representative to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) January 2010 Exercise Planning Group (EPG) Meeting in Budapest. After receiving a joint demarche from the United States and Russia, Sharon McDonald, CBRN Terrorism Desk Officer in the Counter-Proliferation Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO),could not confirm the United Kingdom,s participation. McDonald also said she had not discussed the matter with her supervisors in the upcoming meeting. According to McDonald, the United Kingdom,s hesitation stems in large measure from a paucity of resources and an ongoing CBRN Terrorism review; this review will measure the United Kingdom,s participation in the GICNT against other multilateral partnerships. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) Department requests that Post urge CBRN Terrorism Desk Officers to bring the question of the United Kingdom,s representation at the January 2010 EPG meeting to the prompt attention of their supervisors in the Counter-Proliferation Department. Department also requests that Post strongly encourage U.K. participation in the EPG and deliver the Talking Points in paragraph 4. Finally, Department requests Post to ask CBRN Terrorism Desk officers the questions detailed in paragraph 5. ¶4. (SBU) Begin Talking Points: -- The United States greatly appreciates the United Kingdom,s continued and active participation in the GICNT, including its participation at previous Exercise Planning Group meetings. -- The United States is particularly grateful for (1) the United Kingdom,s commitment to co-hosting a workshop on detection in March 2010 and (2) the United Kingdom,s offering a monetary contribution to help facilitate the January 2010 EPG meeting. -- While we understand that financing EPG participation might be difficult, especially given the resource demands of the CBRN Terrorism review, the United States believes that U.K. participation is a critical component of the meeting,s success. During previous GICNT activities, the United Kingdom,s presence and leadership helped produce outcomes desirable to the GICNT partnership as a whole. -- The United Kingdom,s presence at this particular meeting would be deeply appreciated, since it is highly likely that the partners will have the opportunity to discuss &enhanced implementation8 of the GICNT, as introduced by the U.S. and Russian Co-Chairs at the June 2009 Plenary Meeting at The Hague. End Talking Points. ¶5. (SBU) Department requests that Post offer further assistance if the CBRN Terrorism Desk and/or Counter-Proliferation Department have questions about the upcoming EPG meeting or the GICNT in general. Furthermore, Post should ask if CBRN Terrorism, Counter-Proliferation Department, or FCO need any information about the GICNT that might facilitate its review process. ¶6. (U) Post may share the points above with the Russian representative, Sergei Andiashin, who participated in the 14 October meeting. ¶7. (U) Department requests that Post deliver the GICNT response to host government and report results by November 9. ¶8. (U) Department appreciates Post,s assistance. CLINTON