AFRICA THEMATIC (BIO) WORKSHOP ON IMPLEMENTATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 052995 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL PTER XA XI KE SUBJECT: AFRICA THEMATIC (BIO) WORKSHOP ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1540 REF: A. 08 STATE 110381 ¶B. 08 GENEVA 1068 ¶C. 08 RABAT 755 (NOTAL) ¶D. DRAFT AGENDA -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The United States seeks to encourage the Government of Kenya (GoK) to host a regional workshop on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). The event will be focused on reducing biological threats to enhance regional implementation of UNSCR 1540 and at the same time enhance the participating countries, veterinary and public health-related efforts. The USG will fully fund the workshop. Such workshops are consistent with implementation of UNSCR 1540. This cable provides necessary information and establishes direct coordination between Washington and Nairobi to organize the workshop during the last 10 days of January 2010. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. Washington requests Embassy to pursue the following four objectives: -- Inform the GoK of USG efforts to promote UNSCR 1540 implementation through regional workshops. -- Invite the GoK to host a USG-funded workshop over two to three days in late January 2010, focusing on domestic pathogen security for African countries. -- Explain that although interested in broader implementation, this workshop will increase compliance by tying nonproliferation to development objectives of participating states. -- Provide further details, and emphasize that the workshop will be supported by the UN 1540 Committee (the Committee), UN Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA),and funded by the USG. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶3. Embassy should report results of efforts by cable to ISN before June 12. POCs are Thomas Wuchte, U.S. 1540 Coordinator, wuchteta@state.gov, 202-736-4275 and Export Control and Border Security Manager Vennie Pikoulas Psaros pikoulasba@state.gov, 202-647-4513. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. In 2004, the UN Security Council passed UNSCR 1540, which obligates all Member States to take effective measures to prevent terrorist groups and other non-state actors from obtaining weapons of mass destruction (WMD),and established the Committee to oversee its implementation. Since 2004, successful outreach has raised awareness of Member States, obligations under UNSCR 1540. The proposed event will be the first in a series of regional workshops during which participants will draft national action plans on a functional area such as bio-security, as such plans are called for by UNSCR 1540. STATE 00052995 002 OF 003 ¶5. The workshop will focus on biosafety and biosecurity issues addressed by UNSCR 1540, as well as capacity building, tailored to African states, development priorities. The workshop,s primary objective will be identification of means for African states to further implement UNSCR 1540 by preparing their own national implementation plans, as suggested in the 2006 Committee report, which recommends, &States should be encouraged to provide additional information on national implementation as an ongoing process, including for instance, a road map or an action plan for addressing remaining measures to be taken to fully implement the resolution, taking into account the analysis provided by the Committee. UNSCR 1801, which extended the mandate for the Committee, reiterated the value of developing national implementation plans. ¶6. Africa has been the least involved region regarding implementation of UNSCR 1540, and 25 African states have still not submitted country reports to the Committee. To gain increased regional participation and build on regional partners, existing interest in biosecurity cooperation, the United States proposes that this workshop focus on reducing biological threats; associated development and public health benefits may be more attractive to African countries than issues exclusive to nonproliferation of WMDs. End Background. -------------- NON-PAPER FOR GOK -------------- ¶7. The United States is providing the funding for this workshop through ISN,s Export Control and Border Security Program (EXBS),in cooperation with the Committee and UNODA (Ref. A). ISN and its contractor Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) are working closely with UNODA and the Committee on the formulation of the agenda, the selection of speakers, and logistics, and will work closely with host country officials in Kenya as well. ¶8. The United States proposes a workshop focused on implementing measures to account for, secure, and protect materials related to biological weapons. Washington believes it would be prudent to focus on pathogen security in Africa as it is home to some of the most virulent diseases, including several hemorrhagic fevers. It is therefore important that African laboratories be secure from theft and accidental infection. Several countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Morocco, have demonstrated interest in advancing biosecurity issues on the continent. ¶9. The logistical support that SNL will coordinate with Kenya includes, but is not limited to, arrangements for a workshop venue, coffee breaks and working lunches, simultaneous interpretation, arrangements for designated speakers and presenters, and covering travel costs for participants (two or three, TBD, from each country invited). We hope to cap off the workshop with a visit to one or more of Nairobi,s major microbiology laboratories. ¶10. Although the USG will be funding the workshop, we will ask the GoK to approve the invitations. Washington POCs will e-mail a draft invitation letter example and draft agenda upon receipt of GoK agreement to host the workshop. As host, GoK may, if desired, address the workshop, host a dinner or reception, and host a tour of one or more laboratories. Invitees will be the 18 host governments of overseas addressees. A draft agenda is attached. End of text for GoK. -------------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -------------- ¶11. Washington greatly appreciates Embassy assistance in supporting this important workshop. The 2006 and 2008 Committee reports, as well as general information, are STATE 00052995 003 OF 003 available at http://www.un.org/sc/1540. ¶12. Details on U.S. implementation efforts are available on the intranet at http://t.state.gov/t/isn/cpi/scr1540/scr1540. htm. Please contact POCs for any necessary further background information or argumentation to meet our objectives. CLINTON