ARF BEGINS PREPARATIONS FOR INTER-SESSIONAL YEAR, VISION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 120631 SIPDIS, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ARF ASEAN NK BM AF PK KNNP KPIR PTER EAID VN SUBJECT: ARF BEGINS PREPARATIONS FOR INTER-SESSIONAL YEAR, VISION STATEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN DISCUSSED REF: STATE 111350 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: November 9-11, officials from ARF's 27 nations gathered in New Delhi to discuss the coming year's ARF cooperation agenda and to provide updates on ARF's efforts in transnational security and preventive diplomacy. Vietnam briefed its plans for the ARF Vision Statement implementation plan. Additionally, they discussed various regional security issues such as North Korea, Burma, and Afghanistan/Pakistan. The U.S. objectives for the next year will be to develop solid, concrete initiatives, a strong Vision Statement Implementation Plan, and to enhance ARF's role as a key regional security forum. END SUMMARY -------------- -------------- DISCUSSION ON REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) ISG (Inter-sessional Support Group) delegates delivered prepared remarks on a number of regional, international, and non-traditional security issues. These included: ¶3. (SBU) NORTH KOREA: A number of delegations (including USDEL) from Northeast Asia delivered pointed remarks regarding the need for North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks and regional implementation of UNSCR 1874 and other relevant UNSCRs. ROK and Japan largely welcomed the planned U.S. bilateral engagement of North Korea, but urged that it occur within the Six-Party framework. China's comments took a middle road, calling for restraint and the restarting of the Six-Party Talks in its short briefing on PM Wen Jiabao's visit to Pyongyang. ¶4. (SBU) BURMA: Like-minded delegations, including strong remarks from Indonesia, consistently raised Burma in their interventions. They called for free and fair 2010 elections, the release of political prisoners like Aung San Suu Kyi, and an inclusive, democratic political process. Many specifically welcomed the outcomes of the U.S. policy review and our engagement with the regime. USDEL delivered similar remarks and briefed ARF on the main aspects of EAP A/S Campbell and DAS Marciel's recent trip to Burma. Burma also gave a briefing regarding recent U.S. visits by A/S Campbell and Senator Webb, highlighting what they characterized as the regime's willingness to grant access to senior Burmese officials and to Aung San Suu Kyi. ¶5. (SBU) AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN: In a change from previous ARF meetings, a large number of delegations also shared their concerns regarding developments in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Many called for greater international assistance to both countries. Following PM Hatoyama's announcement the day before, Japan noted its commitment of $5 billion to Afghanistan despite the end of its Indian Ocean refueling mission. India delivered pointed remarks regarding the terrorist threat from groups in Pakistan. The Pakistan delegation did not take the floor during this session. Pakistan instead distributed a short non-paper objecting to the U.S. and others' linking Pakistan with Afghanistan in an "Af-Pak" theater. Pakistan countered that its issues are distinct and that it should not be tied to Afghanistan. The non-paper also outlined Pakistan's opposition to terrorism and its efforts against Taliban elements. ¶6. (SBU) REMAINING SECURITY ISSUES DISCUSSED: A few delegations also raised a number of other security issues including: -- The rise of illegal immigration in the Asia-Pacific region -- Developments in the South China Sea (Note: Vietnam raised this issue in its intervention and ISG co-Chair Vietnam Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh told USDEL that his country was concerned about growing Chinese assertiveness in the region. End Note.) -- Concern over Iran's nuclear program -- Strengthening the international nonproliferation and disarmament regime and welcoming U.S.-Russia START developments -- Non-traditional security issues like climate change, people smuggling, illegal fishing, food and energy security, and piracy. -------------- -------------- ARF COOPERATION; VISION STATEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) VISION STATEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: Vietnam briefed its plans for implementing the ARF's vision statement endorsed by ARF Ministers in July 2009. Vietnam plans to solicit initial input from ARF members over the next few months and then to submit a formal draft for ARF approval in a few months. Vietnam hopes that the implementation plan will be action-oriented and will avoid the STATE 00120631 002 OF 003 conceptual debates already addressed during last year's vision statement negotiations. The plan will balance both ARF's transnational security and preventive diplomacy agendas, and reflect ARF's resourcing needs. ¶8. (U) WORK PLANS and ARF's FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF COOPERATION: Various delegations briefed the plenary on the status of ARF's multiple Work Plans. -- COUNTER TERRORISM AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIME (CTTC): The ASEAN Secretariat, followed by USDEL, briefed on the CTTC Work Plan status. They called for greater engagement by ARF members in its development, noted unfilled positions for Lead Countries in its three Priority Areas (narcotics, bioterrorism, and cybersecurity),and sought submission of project proposals. USDEL introduced a concept paper for an ARF Conference of Experts on Cyber Crime, seeking expedited approval by ARF in order to occur in Spring 2010. Russia, joined by its fellow ARF CTTC co-chair Brunei, suggested a slower timeline due to their plans for a cybersecurity focus for their co-chaired annual ARF CTTC meeting also during Spring 2010. The Russian, Bruneian, and U.S. delegations discussed holding the two events back-to-back. -- NONPROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT (NPD): USDEL briefed on its NPD Work Plan. The Work Plan is currently in draft form and USDEL shared it with a number of key ARF delegations. Pending their interest in engaging with the NPD Work Plan, USDEL plans to table it for official ARF consideration at the next ISG in Spring 2010. -- DISASTER RELIEF (DR): USDEL and other key ARF members briefed on the recent ARF annual meeting on disaster relief and the status of ARF's various disaster relief initiatives (ref A). Indonesia presented its initial preparations for a March 2011 ARF Disaster Relief Exercise. USDEL tabled a revised version of its Model Arrangement concept, an ARF-negotiated model text for temporary disaster relief status of forces arrangements. -- MARITIME SECURITY: New Zealand, incoming host of ARF's next annual maritime security meeting, and other delegations welcomed U.S. plans to strengthen ARF maritime security interoperability through promoting regional use of maritime information-sharing systems. -- PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY (PD): New Zealand and Singapore briefed ARF on their views regarding the development of an ARF PD Work Plan. ARF's supplementary Track Two process, Expert and Emiment Persons (EEP),will develop the first draft of the Work Plan during their mid-December meeting in Indonesia. Once finalized by the EEPs, the Work Plan would be introduced into the government track. -- ANNUAL SECURITY OUTLOOK (ASO) STANDARDIZED FORMAT: After a six-month negotiation, the ASEAN Secretariat briefed ARF on its plans for a standardized ASO format. The ASO is a reporting mechanism to share information regarding security and defense policies, and activities in the region. ¶9. (U) STRENGTHENING THE ROLES OF DEFENSE OFFICIALS: Raising a theme echoed during the earlier November 9 ARF Defense Officials Dialogue, ARF officials discussed strengthening the role and engagement of defense officials in ARF. Vietnam presented a modest plan to rearrange the Defense Officials Dialogue meetings, and other delegations (including USDEL) gave suggestions as well. On November 9, ARF defense officials discussed three topics in their half-day meeting: maritime security and illegal fishing, strengthening ARF defense and security cooperation, and disaster relief. ¶10. (U) LIST OF UPCOMING ARF ACTIVITIES: -- Brussels, Belgium, Seminar on Maritime Security, November 19-20 -- Bali, Indonesia, Experts and Eminent Persons Meeting, December 14-15 -- Auckland, New Zealand, Inter-Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security (ISM-MS),March 29-30, 2010 -- Vietnam, Inter-sessional Support Group (ISG),March/April 2010 -- Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (ISM-CTTC),April 2010 -- Vietnam, ARF Senior Officials Meeting (SOM),May 2010 -- Singapore, Inter-Sessional Meeting on Nonproliferation and Disarmament (ISM-NPD),July 2010 -- Vietnam, ARF Ministerial Meeting, July/August 2010 -- TBD, Seminar on Security Implications of Climate Change -- TBD, Peacekeeping Experts Meeting ¶11. (U) POC: The POCs for further information on this and other ARF matters are EAP/RSP Kevin Sheives (sheiveskw@state.gov) and EAP/RSP David Rodriguez (rodriguezdx@state.gov). More information on ARF and U.S. participation in ARF can be found on the Intranet at http://eap.state.gov/EAPOffices/RSP/ARF.cfm. ¶12. (SBU) COMMENT: The ISG began ARF's planning process for this inter-sessional year. U.S. ARF delegates will focus on developing STATE 00120631 003 OF 003 solid, concrete initiatives and a strong Vision Statement Implementation Plan during this coming year. This approach will help in directing ARF to achieve more tangible results, expand its role as a key regional security organization and further U.S. engagement with the 27 member countries. CLINTON