PSI: UPDATE TO INVITATION TO ATTEND PSI EXERCISE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 STATE 119211 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL KNNP MO XD XF XG XI ZK ZR AS AR NZ SUBJECT: PSI: UPDATE TO INVITATION TO ATTEND PSI EXERCISE LEADING EDGE 2010 REF: STATE 84305 SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶1. We wish to update all addressees about the upcoming US-UAE hosted PSI Exercise LEADING EDGE2010 and invite them to participate in or observe selected phases. This cable also provides logistical information regarding travel, billeting, and registration requirements. In addition, the exercise planners would like to inform partners that the Final Planning Conference in UAE has been rescheduled to take place 14-16 December in Abu Dhabi, UAE. ¶2. PSI exercise LEADING EDGE will take place in UAE, 25-28 January, 2010. Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, UAE, Yemen, Djibouti, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Afghanistan have endorsed the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles and are encouraged to participate. Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan and India are invited to observe all parts of the exercise. A key aspect of the Initiative is its exercise program that provides opportunities to practice WMD-related interdiction actions, network with international counterparts, and share best practices. ¶3. LEADING EDGE 2010 is a USCENTCOM-hosted and USG Interagency (IA)-supported multinational PSI exercise designed to develop WMD interdiction capabilities with partner nations to deter and disrupt illicit transfers of WMD-related material, technology, expertise and equipment, to include addressing the challenges of suspect material inspection, seizure, and disposition. The goals of Exercise LEADING EDGE 2010 are to exercise internal USG/USCENTCOM WMD-related interdiction decision-making processes, increase regional capability and support for PSI, and explore critical STATE 00119211 002 OF 010 post-interdiction issues in the customs, law enforcement and legal arenas. LEADING EDGE 2010 will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 25-28 January, 2010. The exercise consists of three parts. Part 1 is a GCC multinational ship boarding field training exercise to demonstrate boarding, search and seizure capabilities and to share best practices with participants from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and UAE. Part 2, designed by the Department of Homeland Security / Customs & Border Protection (DHS/CBP),is a port exercise (PORTEX) to demonstrate customs/law enforcement capabilities and technologies used to identify and seize cargo of proliferation concern, build a professional partnership among customs and law enforcement personnel, and learn about port and vessel operational issues from industry representatives. Part 3 consists of a table top exercise (TTX),which will examine legal authorities for interdiction, detention, seizure, and disposition under port-state and customs/law enforcement control and identify seams and gaps in legal authorities that may require further national action. Parts 2 and 3 are open to full participation from all PSI-endorsing nations addressed on the "TO" line. ¶4. Posts are encouraged to distribute the information to host government ministries involved in international security-related decision-making, nonproliferation, and export controls (to include international and customs law, operational intelligence, law enforcement and customs operations, border security, international trade and finance, exercise planning, and policy/diplomacy communities). Posts are requested to draw from the points in paragraph 10 in discussions with appropriate host government officials and to encourage host government participation in PSI exercise Leading Edge 2010; para 10 and para 11, which contains logistical information, may be left as a non-paper. In addition, if the invited government asks about travel funding, please contact the CENTCOM POC below. USCENTCOM has a limited amount of funding available to provide airfare for foreign military and government officials if a country cannot otherwise fund their travel. The government of UAE has graciously offered to provide lodging, subsistence, and local transportation for invited participant and observer nations. STATE 00119211 003 OF 010 ¶5. U.S. Central Command AOR countries have already received an official invitation to participate (BAH, KUW, OMN, QAT, SAU) or observe (IRQ, SAU, YEM, EGP, JOR, LEB, AFG, KAZ, KYR, PAK, TAJ, TUR, UZB) in LEADING EDGE 2010, from Commander U.S. Central Command. The distinction between participant and observer in the Central Command invitation letters refers only to Part 1 of the exercise (GCC multinational ship boarding field training exercise). A subsequent letter of Modification from Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy, U.S. Central Command, announced a date change for the exercise from October 2009 to January 2010. Invited PSI-endorsing nations are encouraged to participate in Parts 2 and 3 of the exercise by sending TTX playing teams consisting of 3 to 5 experts from the customs/law enforcement, legal (customs and/or law of the sea/ship boarding),and operational (maritime law enforcement or Ministry of Defense) communities. Participating countries may also observe Part 1. Any country unable to send a full TTX playing team may be involved in the TTX as part of a larger multinational team that the hosts will organize. The Government of UAE also intends to issue official invitations to regional partners and select other nations to participate in or observe the exercise. ¶6. FOR EMBASSIES CANBERRA, PARIS, LONDON, WELLINGTON, OTTAWA, WARSAW, TOKYO, BUENOS AIRES, LISBON, MADRID, ATHENS, THE HAGUE BERLIN, OSLO, ROME, MOSCOW, SINGAPORE, ANKARA, AND COPENHAGEN ONLY. For PSI Operational Experts Group (OEG) countries, exercise planners would like to reach out to customs and law enforcement experts to fill the following desired roles: 1) Full or mixed country playing team as part of the table top exercise January 27-28, 2010; 2) Exercise Control technical expertise for the table top exercise; 3) PORTEX demonstration of portable or hand-held inspection equipment January 26, 2010. If a full playing team is not feasible, OEG partners are encouraged to send 1 or 2 experts to either assist on exercise control by lending their expertise and/or providing a technology demonstration during the PORTEX (Part 2) of the exercise. STATE 00119211 004 OF 010 ¶7. In order for LEADING EDGE 2010 exercise planners to accurately determine the number of personnel attending the exercise, posts are requested to identify and help coordinate the participation and registration of host country's participants or observers no later than 28 December 2009. For CENTCOM AOR countries (BAH, KUW, OMN, QAT, IRQ, SAU, YEM, EGP, JOR, LEB, AFG, KAZ, KYR, IND, PAK, TAJ, TUR, UZB),the CENTCOM USLO is the primary contact with USCENTCOM POC for coordination of the registration process. For all others, post is requested to designate DAO/DATT/ODC or Customs Attach POC to work with USCENTCOM and DHS/CBP POCs for coordination of the registration process. ¶8. Registration Process: Access the Joint Training Information Management System (JTIMS) homepage at http://64.124.158.32/jtims. You will see the standard JTIMS login page. In the Public View box below the login box select COCOM as the organization type. A new menu will appear. Select CENTCOM as the user group and then also as the subordinate group. The exercise title will then appear on the page. Select it and click on "milestones". Put a checkmark in the far right box and click on the word "register" just below it. Fill the appropriate information for your host nation's military and civilian government officials that will attend the exercise and then click save at the bottom of the screen. Where applicable, also include information on U.S. personnel attending or escorting foreign nationals to LEADING EDGE 10. Exercise information, papers, and briefs will also be posted to this site to assist your country's participants with preparing for the exercise prior to arrival in UAE. UAE exercise planners will also establish an exercise website resident with a link to the JTIMS site mentioned above. It will include airport arrival coordination and transportation information. The URL for the UAE website will be disseminated as soon as the site is available. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE AND POCS -------------- ¶9. All action addressees are requested to deliver STATE 00119211 005 OF 010 the documents below to host governments by 24 November, 2009, and report delivery by 04 December, 2009. Replies by email are acceptable but must be received by POCs NLT 04 December, 2009. Points of contact are Sean Pascoli (USCENTCOM CCJ7 Exercise Planner, pascolsw@centcom.mil, 813-827-4074) for matters pertaining to overall exercise planning and logistics, Mike Perron (DHS/U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 202-344-2501, Michael.a.perron@dhs.gov) for matters pertaining to Part 2 (PORTEX) and Part 3 (TTX) planning, and Carlos Guzman (202-647-6320, GuzmanCS@state.sgov.gov). CENTCOM and DHS POCs will coordinate with post USLO, DATT/DAO/ODC, and CBP Attach for coordination of registration and other logistical arrangements. Please slug responses to ISN/CPI, DHS/CBP, and to USCENTCOM. Embassies' prompt action on this request is greatly appreciated. Please also continue to report reactions as received. End action request. -------------- NONPAPER -------------- ¶10. Begin points/non-paper: -- We value our close collaboration on many nonproliferation issues and look forward to working together to deepen our Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) cooperation. -- On April 5, 2009, in Prague, Czech Republic, President Obama expressed his support for the PSI. The USG is committed to making PSI a durable and effective initiative over the long term by improving states' capabilities to stop illicit shipments of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD),their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide. The USG views this effort as a collaborative endeavor among PSI partners. -- In keeping with our shared desire to prevent WMD-related proliferation, we wish to inform you of the upcoming U.S.-UAE hosted PSI Exercise, LEADING EDGE 10, and invite you to participate. STATE 00119211 006 OF 010 -- Exercises are a key component of the PSI. They help states improve their WMD-related interdiction capabilities and interagency decision-making processes. -- PSI participants, including Middle East, Maghreb, and Central Asia regional partners, are invited to participate in the PSI Exercise LEADING EDGE 2010 to work with other PSI-endorsing countries to further develop and improve capabilities to stop shipments of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. -- Exercise LEADING EDGE 2010 will be conducted in the UAE from 25 to 28 January 2010 in three parts. -- Part 1 is a multinational field training exercise to demonstrate boarding, search and seizure capabilities and share best practices. PSI-endorsing countries that are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council are invited to participate. -- Part 2 is a port exercise (PORTEX) to demonstrate customs/law enforcement capabilities and technology used to identify and seize proliferation cargo; build a professional partnership among customs and law enforcement personnel; and learn about port and vessel operational issues from industry representatives. -- Phase 3 is a table top exercise (TTX) that will examine legal authorities available for interdiction, detention, seizure, and disposition under port-state and customs/law enforcement control and identify seams and gaps in legal authorities that may require further national action. -- For Part 3, PSI-endorsing nations are encouraged to send playing teams consisting of 3 to 5 experts from ministries involved in international security-related decision-making, nonproliferation, and export controls (to include international and customs law, operational intelligence, law enforcement and customs operations, military interdiction policy/processes, border security, international trade and finance, exercise planning, and STATE 00119211 007 OF 010 policy/diplomacy communities). Observer nations and any country unable to send this team may still be involved with every aspect of TTX play as part of a larger multinational team. -- We invite you to attend the exercise and seek your decision to participate, preferably with representation by appropriate officials described above. -- The UAE will set up an Exercise LEADING EDGE 2010 website with a link to a USCENTCOM registration and information site mentioned below. It will include airport arrival coordination and transportation information. The URL for the UAE website will be disseminated as soon as the site is available. All participants are encouraged to check both websites often, as it will be used to post materials related to the exercise. -- (FOR Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia Only): For planning purposes, nations invited to participate in Part 1 by CDR USCENTCOM with naval assets, boarding teams, or related equipment, etc., should send 1 or 2 representatives to the LEADING EDGE Final Planning Conference in UAE 14-16 December and should arrive no later than 24 January 2010 for exercise execution. -- For planning purposes, participants and observer nations should arrive no later than 24 January 2010 for exercise execution. -- We believe that your government's decision to actively participate in PSI exercise LEADING EDGE 2010 would deepen (INSERT HOST COUNTRY NAME) regional counter-proliferation cooperation, intensify your participation in PSI, and strengthen your position as a regional leader. LOGISTICAL INFORMATION -------------- ¶11. Begin text of logistical information for Exercise LEADING EDGE 2010. STATE 00119211 008 OF 010 Registration: To register for any part of PSI Exercise LEADING EDGE 10, access the Joint Training Information Management System (JTIMS) homepage at http://64.124.158.32/jtims. You will see the standard JTIMS login page. In the Public View box below the login box select COCOM as the organization type. A new menu will appear. Select CENTCOM as the user group and then also as the subordinate group. The exercise title will then appear on the page. Select it and click on "milestones." Put a checkmark in the far right box and click on the word "register" just below it. Fill in the appropriate information for your nation's military and civilian government officials who will attend the exercise and then click save at the bottom of the screen. Exercise information, papers, and briefs will also be posted to this site in order to assist your country's attendees to adequately prepare for the exercise prior to arrival in UAE. If you cannot access the exercise website, contact your local U.S. Embassy, provide an email address or FAX number and the registration forms can be sent to you. There is no registration fee for these events. Visas: Please submit the required UAE visa application form to your local or closest UAE Embassy or Consulate as early as possible. Agenda and Structure: (FOR Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia Only): Final Planning Conference: GCC countries invited to participate in Phase I of the exercise with naval assets, boarding teams, or related equipment, etc., should send 1 or 2 representatives to the LEADING EDGE 2010 Final Planning Conference in UAE 14-16 December, ¶2009. Exercise: LEADING EDGE 2010 exercise will be conducted on 25-28 January 2010. Participants should arrive no later than 24 January 2010 for exercise execution. Delegation size and composition: We encourage STATE 00119211 009 OF 010 governments to send delegations that represent the ministries that are involved in international security-related decision making. Typically, delegations are comprised of 3-5 officials led by a one-star equivalent government official, from the Ministry of Defense or Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other government officials should represent those ministries involved in international security-related decision-making, nonproliferation, and export controls (to include international and customs law, operational intelligence, law enforcement and customs operations, border security, international trade and finance, exercise planning, and policy/diplomacy communities). Location: Both the Final Planning Conference and the Exercise will be held at the UAE Armed Forces Officers Club (AFOC) in Abu Dhabi. LIVEX (Part I) and PORTEX (Part II) will be held at the Mina Zayed port. Official transportation will be provided to LIVEX and PORTEX from the AFOC. The AFOC is located approximately 10 miles from the Abu Dhabi International Airport (approximately 100 Dirhams for one-way taxi fare). Accommodations: Delegates are encouraged to stay at the Armed Forces Officer Club in Abu Dhabi. UAE organizers have blocked rooms at a special rate (approximately $121 USD per night) for all exercise participants during the period from December 13-17, 2009 and January 23-29, 2010. We encourage participants to contact the exercise website which includes directions and local information. Hotel Registration: The dedicated exercise websites have additional and important details about the exercise, including instructions necessary for reserving hotel rooms at the special rate (see above). All participants are encouraged to check the website often, as it will be used to post the latest information and other materials related to the exercise. Meals: LEADING EDGE 2010 exercise venues will include breakfast, luncheon, snacks and beverages. Attire: For the Final Planning Conference STATE 00119211 010 OF 010 Military: Working Uniform Civilian: Business attire For the exercise Military: Working Uniform Civilian: LIVEX and PORTEX: collared shirt without jacket and tie TTX: Business attire Working language: The official working languages during the events will be English and Arabic. Points of contact are Sean Pascoli (USCENTCOM CCJ7 Exercise Planner,pascolsw@centcom.mil, 813-827-4074) for matters pertaining to overall exercise planning and logistics, Mike Perron (DHS/U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 202-344-2501, Michael.a.perron@dhs.gov) for matters pertaining to PORTEX AND TTX planning and execution, and Carlos Guzman (202-647-6320, GuzmanCS@state.sgov.gov). End logistical information. End Points/Nonpaper. CLINTON