PSI: INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 071183

SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO FBI LEGATT AND POL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP XB XV XC XD
SUBJECT: PSI: INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL
PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE (PSI)
COUNTERPROLIFERATION WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2009


1. This is an action request. See paragraphs 11 and
12 below.


2. Summary: The USG plans to host a Regional
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
Counterproliferation Workshop September 15-17, 2009
in Sydney, Australia for government experts/action
officers from PSI-endorsing states in the Asia-Pacific
region. The purpose of this cable is to inform
embassies about the upcoming workshop, invite countries
to participate, and obtain help identifying and
coordinating the participation of host government
attendees of the workshop. End Summary.

Background


3. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),Weapons
of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMDD),in coordination
with the Office of Secretary of Defense (Policy),
Department of State (ISN/CPI),and the Government of
Australia (GOA) proposes to provide a regional PSI
Counterproliferation Workshop the week of September
14-18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia for government
experts/action officers from PSI-endorsing states in
the Asia-Pacific region (all action addressees).


4. The aim of the workshop is to enhance the knowledge
and capabilities of participating countries so that
they can participate more robustly in PSI activities,
especially real-world interdictions. Participants are
expected to leave the workshop with an increased
understanding of interdiction-related challenges and
solutions, which will assist them in developing the
operational capabilities and national coordination
structures critical to carrying out interdictions
of WMD proliferation-related shipments.


5. The PSI Model National Response Plan, provided to
invitee countries at the PSI Fifth Anniversary in May
2008 and other PSI events since, will serve as a basis
for the workshop. Subject matter experts from various
PSI Operational Expert Group (OEG) countries will also
participate as presenters, providing insights based on
their own country's real-world interdiction experiences.
The workshop will culminate in a table-top exercise.


6. The Regional PSI Counterproliferation Workshop will
not require financial support from U.S. embassies, as
logistical arrangements (travel, lodging and
most meals) for this workshop will be made and funded
by the FBI through contracted support. We urge
participants to check applicable visa requirements
for official travel to Australia. They must make
appropriate arrangements directly with the responsible
Australian diplomatic mission or consular post for
their country.


7. The workshop will accommodate an inter-ministerial
delegation of up to six government representatives from
each of the ten invited countries at the senior action
officer, deputy director or office director level
(O-4 to O-6 military rank equivalent). Invited
governments are requested to send diverse delegations
representing multiple agencies and relevant areas
of expertise (international and customs law,
operational intelligence, law enforcement and
customs operations including investigations,
border patrol and security, international trade
and finance, military operations and exercise
planning, and nonproliferation policy/diplomacy).


8. The working language for the workshop is English.
Invited countries may wish to include an interpreter
as part of their delegation, if needed. E-copies of

STATE 00071183 002 OF 003

SUBJECT: PSI: INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL
PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE (PSI)
COUNTERPROLIFERATION WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 15-17, 20
the PSI Model National Response Plan, which forms
the basis of the workshop agenda, are available in
advance upon request.


9. The PSI Workshop in Sydney is one of several
capacity-building opportunities available to PSI
partners and will provide useful insights for
organizing attending governments for enhanced
participation in the PSI. The concept for this
workshop emerged out of the Washington Declaration
(adopted by PSI partners at the PSI 5th Anniversary
High-Level Political meeting in Washington, May 2008)
to strengthen and emphasize the regional focus and
dimensions of PSI activities.


10. For Embassies Canberra, Wellington, Singapore,
and Tokyo. Post should inform appropriate officials
that they are welcome to use the points in the
non-paper in paragraph 13 to reach out invited
Asia-Pacific PSI countries and encourage them to
participate in the PSI Workshop.

Action Requests


11. Posts are requested to:
1) Extend an invitation to the PSI workshop to host
governments, using the points below;
2) Confirm acceptance of the PSI Workshop no later
than August 7, 2009;
3) Identify and help coordinate the participation of
up to six (6) representatives from each country;
4) Provide lists of proposed participants for the
workshop to the FBI POC not later than August 10,
2009, along with a designated post or primary
government POC for each country delegation.
Dates and location have already been coordinated
with Australian Government.
5) To facilitate coordination and purchasing of
airfare, a copy of the identification section of
their passport should be provided to LEGAT.
6) Ensure completion of human rights vetting on
the selected participants in accordance with
Leahy amendment guidelines. The FBI team also
invites FBI LEGAT Section (control officer) to
attend the workshop, and will entertain proposals
for another U.S. Embassy staff to attend the workshop.


Points of Contact


12. Department of State (ISN/CPI) point of contact is
Carlos Guzman (guzmancs@state.gov, 202-647-6320);
the OSD(P) point of contact is Beth Flores
(beth.flores@osd.mil, 703-692-8248); and the FBI
PSI Workshop Coordinator and point of contact is
Janet Thomas (202-615-3012, Janet.Thomas@ic.fbi.gov).
FBI POC will be the main POC for coordination of
logistics information between Post and Workshop
contracted support. FBI POC has contracted with
CUBIC Corporation to coordinate logistics arrangements
for air transportation, lodging, and ground
transportation in Australia for participants.
FBI POC will coordinate with post or regional LEGAT
and contracted support for all logistical
arrangements, necessary fund transfers, and
reimbursements for ground transportation in
Australia. Please slug responses to ISN/CPI,
OSD(P),and to FBI/WMDD Counterproliferation
Operations Unit. Embassies' prompt action on this
request is greatly appreciated.

Invitation Talking Points


13. Posts are requested to draw on the following
points and invite representatives of host government
to participate in this PSI workshop. Posts may
also provide the points in writing under
appropriate cover.

BEGIN POINTS:

STATE 00071183 003 OF 003


-- The USG invites (Fill in Country) to participate
in a Regional Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
Counterproliferation Workshop. This workshop is
offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMDD),
in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of
Defense (Policy),the Department of State's Office
of Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI),
and the Government of Australia.

-- The workshop will be conducted in Sydney, Australia
on September 15-17, 2009 for government experts and/or
action officers from PSI-endorsing states in the
Asia-Pacific region.

-- The primary objective of the Regional PSI
Counterproliferation Workshop is to enhance the
knowledge and capabilities of PSI partners so that
they can participate more robustly in PSI activities,
including real-world interdictions. The workshop
will provide participants with an increased
understanding of interdiction-related problems
and solutions, which will assist them in developing
the operational capabilities and national
coordination structures critical to carrying out
interdictions of WMD proliferation-related shipments.

-- The PSI Model National Response Plan will serve
as a basis for the workshop. Subject matter experts
from Operational Experts Group (OEG) countries will
also serve as presenters, providing real-world insights
to help attendees strengthen their own national
coordination structures to support PSI interdictions.

-- The three-day workshop will review the PSI
Statement of Interdiction Principles and discuss
the development of national coordination structures
to support interdiction operations. It will also
explore operational and legal perspectives on
interdiction; share insights from industry partners;
introduce tools and "lessons learned" developed
through the Operational Experts Group (OEG) process;
and review the PSI exercise program. Operational
topics covered will include conducting interdictions
in the maritime, air, and land domains; conducting
in-port inspections; and information-sharing and
intelligence challenges. The workshop will culminate
in a table-top exercise.

-- The workshop is designed for up to 80 participants
from Brunei, Cambodia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, South Korea,
Sri Lanka, and Vanuatu (up to six per country).
We would like your government to select experts at
the senior action officer, deputy director or office
director level (O-4 to O-6 military rank equivalent)
representing multiple agencies (international and
customs law, operational intelligence, law enforcement
and customs operations, border security, international
trade and finance, exercise planning, and
nonproliferation policy/diplomacy). All delegates
should have a working-level proficiency in English,
as no interpretation will be provided due to the size
of the proceedings; however, the U.S. will be able to
fund travel and lodging for up to one interpreter as
a member of each delegation to assist if needed.

-- There will be no registration fee for participants.
This opportunity will be provided at U.S. Government
expense to include economy fare air travel, airport
transfers, hotel/lodging, breakfast and lunch, and daily
flat rate allowance to cover dinner/incidentals in Sidney.

-- The USG will arrange for participants' travel to Sydney
on September 13 or 14, and return on September 18 or 19.

-- Participants will be responsible for obtaining any
necessary visas for travel.

END POINTS.
CLINTON