LEAHY VETTING FAST TRACK THIRD TRANCHE AND

UNCLAS STATE 087762 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KCRM MASS PHUM PREL SNAR SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING FAST TRACK THIRD TRANCHE AND CONSOLIDATION REF: (A)08 STATE 026036, (B)07 STATE 169827, (C)05 STATE 225765, (D)05 STATE 160328, (E)05 STATE 131486, (F)03 STATE 034981 ¶1. This cable announces the third tranche of countries approved for Fast Track Leahy vetting status. It also consolidates all three fast track tranches into one list that will be re-approved annually. This cable constitutes re-approval of the first two fast track tranches for another year from the date of this cable. ¶2. The Department's Leahy Working Group (LWG) determines by consensus which countries are eligible for Fast Track vetting. Fast Track countries have a favorable human rights record, including no serious or systemic problems in the country's security forces and no widespread problems with impunity. Countries must also have a human rights history such that it is not likely that there are gross violators of human rights in the country's security forces. The Department's "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" is the primary document for consideration of Fast Track status. Past "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" as well as other sources are also used for determining eligibility. The LWG will continue to review other nominations for Fast Track status. ¶3. In countries approved for Fast Track vetting, assistance candidates subject to the Leahy law are only required to Leahy vet at post. There is no requirement to do additional vetting at the Department for the countries on the Fast Track list. ¶4. All countries on this list have been affirmatively approved for one year of fast track vetting as of the date of this message. The Fast Track list will be reviewed prior to release of an updated annual Fast Track cable. If there is a coup or other military intervention in a Fast Track country, the Leahy working Group must review the country's Fast Track status within 30 days. ¶5. The following countries were approved for the third tranche of Fast Track countries: -AF: Mauritius, Seychelles -EUR: Austria, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland -EAP: New Zealand -WHA: Chile, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago ¶6. The consolidated list of Fast Track countries is as follows: -AF: Mauritius, Seychelles -EUR: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom -EAP: Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kiribati, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu -WHA: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba and Netherlands Antilles, The Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago. ¶7. All other aspects of Leahy vetting will continue, to include local vetting at post and vetting by the Department for those countries not on the Fast Track list. ¶8. The POC for Leahy vetting policy and procedure is DRL/MLGA Winston Mann at (202) 647-2292. ¶9. Minimized considered. CLINTON