Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE45157
2009-05-04 19:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

ACTION REQUEST: URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP

Tags:  MARR ECON POL 
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UNCLAS STATE 045157 

SIPDIS
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR ECON POL
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP
ON PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA

UNCLAS STATE 045157

SIPDIS
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR ECON POL
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP
ON PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA


1. The United States will host an urgent meeting of the
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) at
the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on May 29,

2009. Posts and missions are requested to deliver the
talking points in paragraph 2 and encourage active
participation by capitals in this important plenary session.
This message is INFO ONLY for Embassy Nicosia. The Cypriots
should not/not be invited.


2. Talking points:
- The United States joins with the international
community in urging more aggressive action to combat piracy
off the coast of Somalia. We, along with many other
countries, are committed to helping the Somali government
build its capacity to govern its territory, in particular
through assistance to the Somali security institutions and
the African Union Mission in Somalia.
- However, we also share a sense of urgency in tackling
the problem of piracy at sea. To that end, we urge Contact
Group countries and organizations to consider the following
items for discussion at the May 29 meeting:
- Assigning additional counter-piracy forces to
augment those already on patrol in the region;
- Adopting national policies that will support
detention and prosecution of suspected pirates;
- Pressing victim states to accept responsibility
for prosecuting pirates;
- Urging national commercial ship owners to
improve ship self-protection and call for insurance
incentives to support investment in such capability; and
- Adopting policies that will deny pirates the
benefits of concessions that fuel piracy.
- We plan to call for the creation of a Fifth Working
Group to explore the feasibility of tracking and freezing
pirate assets, and would welcome offers by countries to lead
and/or serve on this Working Group.


3. If-asked talking points:
- The U.S. will support requests for participation in
the CGPCS by Canada, Liberia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Panama, and
Singapore.
- Regarding Republic of Cyprus (ROC) participation, the
U.S. has not taken a position on Cypriot participation in the
CGPCS since the ROC has not formally submitted a request to
participate. Should the ROC submit a request for
participation, the U.S. would consider the request in
consultation with other CGPCS participants.


4. Department points of contact for this meting are David
Foran, PM/PPA, 202-647-7162, forandm@state.gov; Aiyaz Husain,
202-647- 6058, husaina2@state.gov; or Donna Hopkins, PM/PPA,
202-647-0792, hopkinsdl@state.gov. Additional information
concerning the CGPCS is available on the Department Intranet
site at www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/othr/misc/121054.htm.
CLINTON