COORDINATING WITH BIH ON BOSNIAN PROPOSAL FOR

UNCLAS STATE 111773 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM OSCE ZL BK SUBJECT: COORDINATING WITH BIH ON BOSNIAN PROPOSAL FOR COMBATING WMD REF: THE HAGUE 263 ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Sarajevo please see para 7; Embassy The Hague, USOSCE, USNATO, USEU Missions, see para 8. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: On October 2, 2009 the Bosnian Embassy in Washington, D.C. transmitted a note dated August 6, 2009 to the Secretary with a request by the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for USG assistance to launch a regional Balkan initiative on implementing national obligations and requirements to combat the proliferation of WMD and terrorism. The goal of the initiative would be to build capacity in Balkan countries to enact laws and other measures required under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and other relevant non-proliferation treaties and regimes. The Department wishes to acknowledge receipt of this request, to express encouragement for such efforts by BiH to pursue regional solutions on implementing 1540, and to seek more clarification from the BiH-- both in capital and from relevant Bosnian missions at the OPCW, OSCE, NATO, and the EU-- on the current status of the proposed project and requested scope of potential USG assistance for this effort, as well as other assistance being solicited or offered by partners. End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) Background: A letter by the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj that was transmitted to the Secretary on October 2, 2009 seeks USG political, financial, and technical assistance to implement an initiative known as IPACT (the Implementation Programme against CBRNe Proliferation and Terrorism). As described in the letter and in an accompanying pilot project summary (to be sent to posts via e-mail),IPACT would bring together Balkan governments (i.e., Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, FYR of Macedonia) at workshops. At the workshops, they would develop ways to enact and enforce appropriate laws and other measures as required under 1540 and other relevant nonproliferation treaties (Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions and the NPT) and regimes. ¶4. (SBU) As described in the project summary, IPACT would be organized into two phases. In the first phase, Bosnia would bring together stakeholders, experts, international organizations and potential donors to produce an analysis and summary of nonproliferation and counter-terrorism requirements to be met. Phase 2, slated for 2010, would build on the plans developed in Phase 1 and consist of a series of programs to be implemented over five years. During this time Balkan states will be expected to formulate and implement laws and regulations as required under UNSCR 1540; develop a doctrine of policies and procedures, including training for others, on nonproliferation; and ensure implementation at all levels of government and entities possessing sensitive dual-use capabilities and materials. In the letter BiH sought 60,000 euros for Phase 1. Although the letter was dated August 2009, and transmitted only on October 2, we need to clarify whether BiH has succeeded in finding other donors for this project in order to formulate a fuller USG response to its request for political, and especially monetary, assistance. According to the IPACT project summary, the initial phase was scheduled to end in November 2009. ¶5. (SBU) The USG first became apprised of this proposal at the Clingendael Workshop on 1540 implementation (see Ref) in March 2009. Since then, a more detailed description of Bosnia's program and goals for IPACT has been formulated and distributed by IB Consultancy, most recently during the 1540 Comprehensive Review Meeting in New York on September 30-October 2 (The POC there was Ilja Bonsen, www.ibconsultancy.eu). The project is being solicited among multiple stakeholders, which we understand include overlapping and/or supporting activities in the OSCE, NATO, OPCW, as well as in cooperation with the European Union. ¶6. (SBU) In principle, the Department supports efforts by countries to develop their own initiatives, particularly those that are sustainable and regional in focus, to conform to their 1540 requirements. Such actions would promote the Administration's nonproliferation goals, as articulated in the President's Prague speech in April, and more recently in September at the UN, to stem the proliferation of WMD and related materials, as well as promote regional cooperation on areas of mutual interest. In particular, we welcome Bosnia's interest to take the lead by encouraging other Balkan states to work together to take concrete steps to ensure their national laws and regulations adhere to its international legal requirements and reflect shared nonproliferation norms. That said, before we can consider possible areas of funding within the USG, we require more details from the BiH on its proposal, clarification on whether it has approached other donors (such as the EU),and assurances that such efforts have been coordinated with other bodies involved in these areas (OSCE and OPCW) and are not duplicative. Further, we seek more information on the relationship between the IB Consultancy group that formulated the proposal and BiH. End Background. ¶7. (U) Action request for Sarajevo: Post is requested to approach appropriate MFA officials responsible for nonproliferation policy, in particular on 1540, and, drawing from the background above, acknowledge receipt of the FM Alkalaj's letter to the Secretary and convey the below talking points and questions. ¶8. (U) The Hague, USOSCE, NATO, and USEU Missions are instructed to approach respective Bosnian mission counterparts, as well as UK FSC Chair in Vienna, NATO WMD in Brussels, and the EU Commission with same instructions. (SBU) Begin talking points (can be left as a non-paper): --We wish to thank the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for its proposal on the Implementation Programme Against Proliferation and CBRNe Terrorism (IPACT),as described in a letter from Foreign Minister Alkalaj to Secretary Clinton transmitted on October 2, 2009. --Combating weapons of mass destruction and terrorism is a high priority for the United States and we encourage efforts by your government to forge regional solutions to implementing and promoting adherence to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, as well as other nonproliferation treaties and regimes. --The project as described in the FM Alkalaj's letter has been shared with relevant offices within the Department State responsible for non-proliferation policy. --We note that FM Alkalaj's letter, while transmitted only recently in Washington, was originally dated in August and called for activities under Phase 1 to take place this fall. We would welcome any updates on BiH's progress on implementing it thus far. --We would welcome more details on both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of IPACT and what specific end goals you envision upon completion of this program. --Further, we would welcome information related to the requested funding amount of 60,000 euros and whether BiH has approached other governments or nongovernmental groups. --On your donor outreach efforts, what are your plans for securing long-term funding to implement Phase 1 to sustain the series of workshops and actions proposed in Phase 2? --We believe that successful implementation of your proposal depends on close coordination with relevant bodies involved in 1540 implementation to avoid duplicative efforts elsewhere on combating nonproliferation. Have you coordinated your efforts with the OPCW, NATO, European Union and the OSCE, as all of these regional bodies have an interest in complementary support for this approach consistent with decisions and statements in support of 1540? End talking points. ¶9. (U) Washington appreciates Post's assistance on this matter. Department POCs are ISN/CPI and 1540 Coordinator Thomas Wuchte, (202) 736-4275, WuchteTA@state.sgov.gov and EUR/PRA Nate Young, (202) 647-7278. YoungNH@state.sgov.gov. Please slug all replies to ISN and EUR/PRA. CLINTON