Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE17943
2009-02-26 15:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
WHA PARTICIPATION IN US-CANADA-OAS BORDER
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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
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
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