RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1540 COMMITTEE ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 082576 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL PTER SC SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1540 COMMITTEE ASSISTANCE PACKAGES TO IMPLEMENTATION PROVIDERS REF: A. LETTER FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN TO USUN SCA/5/09(01) ¶B. KINGSTON 503 ¶C. DOZIER-WUCHTE E-MAIL JULY 23 ¶1. This is an action request for USUN. Please see para. 12. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 (2004) obligates all states to develop and maintain &appropriate, effective8 measures to improve their indigenous capacities to counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorist threats. UNSCR 1540 also established a Committee responsible for implementation (the Committee). In 2008, the Security Council unanimously adopted UNSCR 1810, renewing the Committee for three years and addressing funding mechanisms, including voluntary contributions. UNSCR 1810 also recognized that some States may require assistance, and establishes the Committee as a clearing house for international assistance requests. Accordingly, the Committee has conveyed to the United States requests for assistance from Armenia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),Iraq, Madagascar, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This cable is Washington's interim response providing information for the Committee on USG assistance efforts in response to those requests and to additional requests from Uganda, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia. -------------- - INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES) BACKGROUND FOR USUN ONLY -------------- - ¶3. Following is background on anticipated or ongoing USG support related to the referenced assistance requests. USUN may draw from this in discussions as needed to further explain our support for the requests. ¶4. Armenia: The USG has provided sophisticated radiation portal monitors and radioisotope identifiers at five border crossings and Zvarnots International Airport. Armenian Customs uses this equipment to detect radioactive materials. The USG continues to provide gamma/neutron personal radiation detectors for land borders and the airport. The USG will soon provide advanced multi-mode devices to detect dangerous chemical and biological materials. Over the last several years, the USG has provided extensive training to Armenian Customs and Border Police. This training includes International Airport Cargo Interdiction given at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York; the Radiation Academy in Hanford, Washington; and Targeting and Risk Management given in Yerevan. Over the next 10 months, the USG anticipates providing continued robust professional training to include ground sensor response, international border interdiction, and international rail interdiction. Regarding Armenia,s request to upgrade the physical protection of its nuclear power plant, in accordance with UNSCR 1810, the United States supports the efforts of regional organizations to implement UNSCR 1540. Without ruling out specific bilateral assistance on an as-needed basis, we envision facilitating our efforts to assist Armenia through the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its field mission in Yerevan. (Note: The USG is STATE 00082576 002 OF 004 working with the UK to establish a UNSCR 1540 coordinator position at OSCE headquarters in Vienna to assist with technical assistance requests from OSCE participating States. End Note). ¶5. DRC: The United States is co-sponsoring an African workshop in Nairobi, Kenya during January 2010 (Ref C). The workshop, to which we intend to invite three DRC representatives, 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 identifying means for African states to further implement UNSCR 1540 by preparing their own national implementation plans. ¶6. Iraq: The USG, under the Export Control and Related Border Security program (EXBS),will provide USD 2 million to support Iraqi development and implementation of comprehensive strategic trade controls. EXBS will provide training and technical consultation for drafting a comprehensive export control law. Additional training will focus on helping Iraq implement a national control list that meets international standards, and establish an export licensing system. EXBS will also provide border security training to law enforcement agencies. The National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Cooperative Border Security Program (CBSP) recently began engagement with the GoI. CBSP engages international partners in collaborative analytical and technical activities supporting global nonproliferation and counterterrorism efforts. The program's mission coincides with Iraq's general request for assistance with implementation of certain UNSCR 1540 obligations. The project appears to be an appropriate match; however, additional details on desired assistance will be necessary to determine what follow-up may be necessary. In partnership with the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, CBSP is undertaking a capacity building proof of concept project focused on a 100 km sector of the Iraq border, the scope of which will include holistic analysis of the border security system, identification of system vulnerabilities and potential solutions, and implementation of cost-effective capacity building solutions. ¶7. Madagascar: The United States currently has no specific plans for bilateral assistance to Madagascar. In view of the March coup d,etat in Madagascar, the USG has suspended all assistance to the government and all non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar. The only continuing aid is humanitarian assistance that directly benefits the people of Madagascar and is not provided through Madagascar's government. ¶8. CARICOM: Along with Canada, the United States has responded positively to all aspects of this request. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) cosponsored the Domestic Export Controls and Maritime Security Workshop in Support of the Implementation of UNSCR 1540 in Kingston June 15-17 (Ref. B). With support from regional organizations and the Henry ¶L. Stimson Center, participants discussed UNSCR 1540 as an opportunity to respond to security and development needs. The event increased buy-in by underlining the multiple benefits of UNSCR compliance, introduced the CARICOM,s newly-designated 1540 Coordinator to regional enforcement authorities, and set the stage for the next phase of our engagement, the ISN-led development of model legislation for UNSCR 1540 implementation. This workshop responded to the U.S. and Canadian commitment to support the CARICOM region-wide request for capacity-building assistance. DOE is an interagency partner with DoS. The United States will follow through on the success of this workshop by redoubling efforts in regional training and technical assistance programs, including legislative assistance. STATE 00082576 003 OF 004 ¶9. Uganda: The United States will be sponsoring three Ugandan representatives for the African workshop in Kenya, January 2010. 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. ¶10. Azerbaijan: The USG has provided Azerbaijan coastal radar systems, monitoring and surveillance equipment for Coast Guard vessels, and radiation portal monitors at key land border crossings. The USG is procuring advanced equipment to provide Azerbaijan Customs the capability to detect materials related to explosives and weapons of mass destruction, to be delivered in the fall of 2009. The USG has provided training to border guard and customs officers for several years to enhance their ability to interdict illicit trafficking in WMD-related materials, and expects to continue for the foreseeable future. Recent training included observation of Border Patrol operations in Texas and identification of high-risk cargo and passengers. Additional courses over the next 10 months will include International Border Interdiction, International X-ray Interdiction, and International Rail Interdiction. ¶11. Mongolia: In its 2005 report to the Committee, Mongolia flagged its shortage of equipment and trained personnel, and requested radioactive detection equipment. In 2007, Mongolia requested assistance from the Committee for its project to strengthen technical capabilities for export and import controls of nuclear and other radioactive materials, with a list of specific equipment. Mongolia, which sits just south of several important nuclear facilities, is a priority country for the United States. NNSA,s Second Line of Defense answered this request with a grant of USD 5.5 million, with another 6 million to be disbursed by 2011. To date, detection equipment has been installed at eight border crossings. When completed, this project will provide the requested equipment for 15-20 crossings. End background. -------------- NOTE VERBALE -------------- ¶12. USUN is requested to convey the following text by Note to the 1540 Committee. Begin text: The Permanent Mission of the United States of America presents its compliments to the UNSCR 1540 Committee and has the honor to provide this interim response to the assistance requests that the Committee has received from Member States to implement the resolution. In accordance with UNSCR 1810, the United States has established a national point of contact for assistance, Thomas Wuchte (U.S. 1540 Coordinator),and is actively updating its list of available assistance programs for the Comprehensive Review, as last provided in 2006. Mr. Michael Gordon is the designated contact in New York. The Permanent Mission of the United States is pleased to inform the Committee of the United States Government's contribution to the request of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) submitted on October 17, 2008. The United States STATE 00082576 004 OF 004 Government cosponsored, with Canada, a workshop on export controls and maritime security, which occurred June 15-17, 2009 in Kingston, Jamaica. Officials of the following Member States attended: Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Belize; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Representatives of the Organization of American States and CARICOM joined the workshop and the Secretariat of the Committee provided most useful assistance. The workshop, partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, was successful in explaining clearly the threat of the proliferation of weapons of WMD and their delivery systems in the Caribbean to officials from foreign affairs, customs, and coast guard authorities, who are frequently focused on other security challenges. Critically, it also moved beyond general awareness building about UNSCR 1540 to discussion about implementing its specific obligations. Attendees returned to their capitals with a renewed sense of urgency about implementation and with ideas about how to do so. To further aid the resolution's implementation, the United States has committed to funding the Caribbean regional coordinator position and providing legislative assistance. In its 2005 report to the Committee, Mongolia flagged its shortage of equipment and trained personnel, and requested radioactive detection equipment. In 2007, Mongolia requested assistance from the Committee for its project to strengthen technical capabilities for export and import controls of nuclear and other radioactive materials, with a list of specific equipment. The United States answered this request with a grant that will provide the requested equipment for 15-20 border crossings. The requests from Armenia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and Madagascar are being carefully studied, along with requests from Uganda and Azerbaijan to determine how the United States might provide assistance. In the case of Iraq, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration's Cooperative Border Security Program recently began engagement. This program engages international partners in collaborative analytical and technical activities supporting global nonproliferation and counterterrorism efforts. The program's mission coincides with Iraq's general request for assistance with implementation of certain UNSCR 1540 obligations. We would welcome this letter being posted on the 1540 Committee website so that other Member States providing similar technical assistance can cooperate on partnering and sharing information. It is our belief that the website should be constructed so that interactive links will enable the Committee to more quickly share information among all potential partners. (End text.) -------------- Next Steps -------------- ¶13. USUN support is greatly appreciated. Department requests that USUN confirm delivery of note verbale by August ¶17. ¶14. Please contact U.S. 1540 Coordinator Thomas A. Wuchte at (202) 736-4275 for any further information. CLINTON