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