COUNCIL OF BALTIC SEA STATES SEEKS MORE COLLABORATION WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STOCKHOLM 000674

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PREL SW
SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF BALTIC SEA STATES SEEKS MORE COLLABORATION WITH
OBSERVER STATES

REF: A) STOCKHOLM 446, B) COPENHAGEN 282


1. Summary: On October 6, REO and Embassy staff attended the annual
consultations between the Council of Baltic Sea States and its
observer states (including the U.S.). CBSS officials presented
priorities for the upcoming year and highlighted successful ongoing
cooperation under CBSS experts groups on nuclear safety, children at
risk, and the CBSS Task Force Against Trafficking in Human Beings
(all involving U.S. participation). Observer state representatives
outlined respective contributions to the work of the CBSS. Using
guidance provided by the Department, we emphasized USG appreciation
for observer status, support for the CBSS reform process, and USG
willingness to explore new cooperation on a case-by-case basis,
across the range of CBSS priority areas. The eighth CBSS summit
meeting will take place June 1-2, 2010, in Vilnius. End Summary.


2. Nordic/Baltic Regional Environmental Officer Erik Hall, and
Carolyn Westerod of the EU Presidency Unit in Embassy Stockholm on
October 6 attended an annual meeting between the CBSS Committee of
Senior Officials (CSO) and observer states, in Stockholm.
Participants included members of the CBSS Committee of Senior
Officials (CSO) from CBSS member states (Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, the Russian
Federation, Swedent, and the European Commission),representatives
of CBSS observer States (Belarus, France, Italy, Netherlands,
Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA) and the CBSS
Secretariat.


3. In its invitation to this meeting the CBSS had put observer
states on notice that "observer status implies that observers must
contribute to CBSS activities in line with its long term
priorities." In a follow-up letter to participants (copied to
EUR/NB, and including a detailed CBSS calendar of events under the
Lithuanian presidency) dated October 13, CSO Chairman Neris Germanas
thanked participants and requested that observer states which had
suggested closer cooperation with other regional councils provide
contact information. He also requested that observer states add a
link to the CBSS on their foreign ministry websites, and requested a
technical contact point to help the CBSS to do the same.

Experts Collaborating on Children at Risk
--------------


4. After CBSS CSO Chairman Germanas briefly outlined the ongoing
CBSS reform process and the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency,
Lars Loof, secretary to the CBSS Expert Group for Cooperation on
Children at Risk (EGCC) briefed on the expert group's recent work in
the area of Child Safety. This work consisted of identifying,
supporting and implementing cooperation on children at risk between
countries and organizations in the region. Furthermore, it examined
and reviewed areas of concern with regards to children, as
identified by its network of national coordinators and experts.
Based on these findings, the EGCC adopted programs and implemented
actions within areas of concern. Activities and programs were
carried out with national authorities, agencies and organizations in
cooperation with regional and international organizations. Mr. Loof
described the newly adopted priority areas for the EGCC as
following:

--Protection of children from all forms of sexual exploitation,
including:
--Unaccompanied and trafficked children
--Children abused by being offered money or other forms of
remuneration in exchange for sex
--Children and online sexual exploitation
--Protection of children from all forms of sexual abuse and sexual
violence, and,
--Rights of children in institutions and in other forms of "out of
home" care.

US Participation in anti-TIP Training
--------------


5. Mr Loof noted that U.S. authorities had cooperated with the EGCC
on the topics of Internet safety and child trafficking in the past.
Norway's CSO praised the achievements of this CBSS effort, noting

STOCKHOLM 00000674 002 OF 003


that EGCC training had been carried out throughout the Baltic Sea
region. CBSS Director General Gabriele Kotschau highlighted the
related work of the CBSS Task Force on Human Trafficking in offering
expert training to authorities in all CBSS member states, including
participation from the U.S. Kotschau invited observer states to
receive similar training organized by CBSS, offered at cost.

Nuclear Safety Experts Collaborating
--------------


6. Finn Ugletveit, Chairman of the CBSS Expert Group on Nuclear and
Radiation Safety (EGNRS),described the group's activities. The
EGNRS was established in 1992 and integrates national authorities of
the CBSS members and its observers, including DOE experts. The
Expert Group met twice a year and more frequent in smaller
sub-groups on an ad-hoc basis to discuss specific tasks. Ugletveit
noted that the EGNRS faced the constraint of limited funding, and
invited observer states to contribute more in this in this area.
Tasks of EGNRS include:

--collecting information about nuclear facilities and waste storage
in the Baltic Sea Region;
--identifying sources of radioactivity that pose potential risks to
the Baltic Sea Region;
--identifying potential nuclear and radiological risks that require
immediate concerted remedial action;
--taking stock of and monitor various projects aimed at enhancing
nuclear and radiation safety in the Baltic Sea Region; and,
--preparing relevant recommendations and develop initiatives
accordingly.


7. Denmark's CSO commented that the work of these two expert groups
constituted the "crown jewels" of CBSS cooperation, noting tangible
benefits for member as well as observer states from these
activities.

US Message: Appreciation; Will Consider New Cooperation
-------------- --------------


8. The consultations proceeded with the respective Observer States
holding presentations on their past and future engagements in the
CBSS. The Secretariat reiterated its wish to see more concrete
participation by observer states. REO delivered a U.S. statement of
appreciation for US observer status in CBSS, encouragement of the
CBSS reform process, and willingness to consider further engagement
on a case-by-case basis across the range of CBSS priorities
(environment; economic development; energy; education and culture;
and civil security and the humanitarian dimension). The final text
of the U.S. intervention (drafted by EUR/NB and abbreviated somewhat
due to time constraints) has been shared with the Department
(EUR/NB) electronically.

Other Observer State Input
--------------


9. Belarus' representative elaborated an ambitious list of
priorities as an observer state, highlighting its participation in
CBSS training activities even before becoming a formal observer to
the CBSS in June 2009. The French representative thanked the CBSS
for its inspiration for the Mediterranean Union, and promised more
cooperation in the areas of nuclear safety and protection of
children at risk. Italy's representative complimented the
secretariat on its "impressive" work and expressed interest in
strengthening cooperation and sharing lessons learned between the
Baltic and Adriatic sub-regions. The Dutch representative noted
that collaboration by the Netherlands had been limited in the past
but expressed hope for more fruitful cooperation in the future, and
cited the Nordstream gas pipeline project as an example of useful
regional cooperation. Belarus, Romanian and Slovakian
representatives highlighted potential CBSS collaboration with the
EU's Eastern Partnership.


10. The Spanish representative pledged to work closely with the
CBSS during the upcoming Spanish EU Presidency, when Spain's
priorities would include a focus on energy, the economy and the
environment. The Ukrainian representative promised to try to take

STOCKHOLM 00000674 003 OF 003


part in future events that were organized by the CBSS. The United
Kingdom representative said his government valued its observer
status and wished to focus future collaboration on the expert
groups.


11. Comment: We would like to thank the Department (especially
EUR/NB and EB) for the comprehensive guidance provided for this
meeting. U.S. views were heard and our willingness to explore
continued and new collaboration appreciated by CBSS member states,
offering an opportunity to advance shared interests on a range of
issues in the future.


12. REO Copenhagen has cleared this cable.

BARZUN