Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE111773
2009-10-29 18:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

COORDINATING WITH BIH ON BOSNIAN PROPOSAL FOR

Tags:  PREL KNNP PARM OSCE ZL BK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0016
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #1773 3021824
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291803Z OCT 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0000
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0000
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0000
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0000
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
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

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