WHA PARTICIPATION IN US-CANADA-OAS BORDER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 017943 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM ETTC PREL PBTS EWWT OAS SUBJECT: WHA PARTICIPATION IN US-CANADA-OAS BORDER SECURITY SEMINAR ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3 and 4. ¶2. (SBU) On March 16-18, 2009, the United States, the Government of Canada, and the Organization of American States, (OAS) Department of Public Security will co-host an important seminar for representatives of OAS Member States on "Practical Approaches to Combating the Illicit Trafficking In Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials Across Borders: Meeting of Law-Enforcement Authorities and Customs Officials." This meeting, to be held in Vancouver, Canada, is a unique and valuable opportunity to observe best practices in the areas of law enforcement and customs and border patrol. OAS Secretariat conference organizers request USG assistance in bolstering wide participation in this conference, and in following up on their invitation letter sent on February 1, 2009. ¶3. (SBU) Action request: Department requests Post to approach host government to encourage participation by appropriate authorities in the above-referenced U.S.-sponsored seminar to be held in Vancouver, Canada from March 16-18, 2009. Important note: The organizers of the event are willing to cover expenses related to the participation (economy-class roundtrip airfare, hotel and meals for the duration of the event, and miscellaneous expenses) of a representative from each OAS Member State. Department suggests that Post may wish to coordinate outreach to host government with Canadian counterparts in host country, who will likely receive similar action requests. Post may leave with host governments the text of this invitation letter (paragraph 5) and a draft seminar agenda (paragraph 6). Post may also draw on the background information in paragraph 4 when demarching. The seminar is seeking to attract participation by law enforcement, border and customs authorities operating in the field from all OAS Member States who have decision-making authority (or, if that is not possible, practitioners who can influence decision makers). Please provide all responses to State/WHA POC as detailed in paragraph 7. ¶4. (SBU) Seminar participation is requested of law enforcement, border and customs authorities operating in the field from all OAS Member States who have decision-making authority (or, if that is not possible, practitioners who may be able to influence decision makers). While the main focus of this event will be the trafficking of small arms and light weapons, lessons learned here will be relevant to national and regional efforts to combat all smuggled goods, including contraband, narcotics, and weapons of mass destruction. Currently, thirteen OAS member states have confirmed attendance: Bahamas, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. For these countries, post may consider approaching host governments to support participation in this seminar at post's discretion. ¶5. Text of invitation letter from OAS Department of Public Security to leave behind with host government. Begin text: February 1, 2009 I have the honor to address Your Excellency with reference to a seminar "Practical Approaches to Combating the Illicit Trafficking In Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials Across Borders: Meeting of Law-Enforcement Authorities and Customs Officials" that will be held in Vancouver, Canada from March 16-18, 2009. This event is being organized by the General Secretariat of the OAS, through its Department of Public Security, jointly with the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States. The purpose of the seminar, which responds to a mandate set forth in the Tlatelolco Commitment of the Second Conference of CIFTA States Party (Mexico, DF, February 20-21, 2008),is to increase awareness of cross-border illicit firearms trafficking, its links to transnational organized crime, and its possible ties to terrorist activity in the Hemisphere. In addition, the seminar will serve to strengthen cooperation and promote the exchange of information among border and STATE 00017943 002 OF 003 customs experts in the region; and encourage more active coordination among national, regional, and international actors working in the field. The seminar will include a visit to the Pacific Highway Point of Entry (POE) in Blaine, Washington, as well as a visit to Vancouver Delta Seaport Facility. Attached please find a draft agenda for your information. The event is designed for law enforcement, border and customs authorities operating in the field from all OAS Member States who have decision-making authority (or, if that is not possible, practitioners who can influence decision makers). The participation of a representative from your country will be fundamental to ensuring this activity,s success. For this reason, the organizers of the event are pleased to facilitate the participation (economy-class roundtrip airfare, hotel and meals for the duration of the event, and miscellaneous expenses) of a representative of your country. While interpretation will be provided in English and Spanish during all aspects of the seminar, the participation of representatives with a basic understanding of English is strongly encouraged. We would welcome the opportunity to have your government participate in this event and respectfully request that you forward this invitation to the respective authorities. In order to be able to process the visas required for participation in this seminar, interested parties should contact Alison August Treppel of the Department of Public Security at atreppel@oas.org or by telephone at (202) 458-3483 no later than February 20, 2009. End text. ¶6. Text of draft seminar agenda to leave behind with host government. Begin text: Vancouver, British Columbia March 16-18, 2009 -------------- Monday, March 16 -------------- 9:00-9:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks Remarks by representative of OAS Remarks by representative of US Government Remarks by representative of Canadian Government 9:30-10:45 Current trends in arms trafficking, tools for counter-terrorism Presentation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Presentation by US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Presentation by National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST),Canada 10:45-11:00 Coffee Break 11:00-11:30 Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade Presentation by World Customs Organization (WCO) (to be confirmed) 11:30-12:00 Enforcement of laws and regulations Presentation by ICE/US 12:00-12:30 Overview of international agreements on arms trafficking Presentation by Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT),Canada 12:30-2:00 Lunch 2:00-3:00 Risk assessment "on-the-fly" (advanced targeting) Presentation by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 3:00-3:15 Coffee Break STATE 00017943 003 OF 003 3:15-4:00 Detection of fraudulent documents (travel document integrity) Presentation by ICE Lab/US Presentation by Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE),OAS 4:00-5:00 Professionalism through integrity training Presentation by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Presentation by Interpol/UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (to be confirmed) 5:00 Organization of groups for on-site visits during days 2 and 3. -------------- Tuesday, March 17 -------------- 9:00 Depart hotel 10:00-12:30 Group 1 visit to Pacific Highway Point of Entry (POE), Blaine, Washington Group 2 visit to Vancouver Delta Seaport Facility Topics addressed: Best practices at points of entry The use of technology for customs, enforcement at ports and borders 12:30-1:30 Lunch provided on premises 1:30-3:30 Tours and presentations continue 3:30 Return to hotel -------------- Wednesday, March 18 -------------- 9:00 Depart hotel 10:00-12:30 Group 1 visit to Vancouver Delta Seaport Facility Group 2 visit to Pacific Highway Point of Entry (POE), Blaine, Washington Topics addressed: Best practices at points of entry The use of technology for customs, enforcement at ports and borders 12:30-1:30 Lunch provided on premises 1:30-3:30 Tours and presentations continue 3:30 Return to hotel 4:00-4:30 Improving cooperation among custom and law enforcement authorities Presentation on Establishing Hemispheric Points of Contact among Customs and Border Authorities, OAS 4:30-5:00 Wrap-up and Closing Remarks End text. ¶7. (SBU) POC in the Department is WHA/FO Giovanni Snidle, who is in the global address book. CLINTON