Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SUVA215
2009-05-21 23:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR CONCLUDES SHIPRIDER AGREEMENT WITH TONGA
how-toP 212332Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1279 INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY AMEMBASSY KOROR AMEMBASSY KOLONIA AMEMBASSY MAJURO AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY BEIJING AIT TAIPEI 0003 AMEMBASSY MANILA COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI CCGDFOURTEEN HONOLULU HI NOAA NMFS SILVER SPRING MD SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SUVA 000215
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHSA PREL EFIS TN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONCLUDES SHIPRIDER AGREEMENT WITH TONGA
UNCLAS SUVA 000215
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHSA PREL EFIS TN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONCLUDES SHIPRIDER AGREEMENT WITH TONGA
1. (U) ON May 15,Ambassador McGann, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District
14 CPT. David Swatland, DAO CMDR Robert Forwood and POL/ECON Chief
James Crowe met with Tonga Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Viliame Va'inga Tone, Solicitor General 'Asipeli 'Aminiasi Kefu and
other government officials in Nuku'alofa to resolve the final
questions regarding a shiprider agreement between our countries. The
delegations used the draft text proposed by the USG as their working
document. Ambassador explained the agreement would allow USCG
vessels with Tongan law enforcement officials onboard to conduct
maritime security patrols within its EEZ. He also drew upon the
success of the ship riders program in Kiribati to describe the
potential benefits of the agreement.
2. (U) In an effective use of pre-meetings by CPT. Swatland, most
issues regarding the draft text had been satisfactorily addressed.
This left only Tongan concerns over the extent of USCG authority
while in their EEZ to be discussed at the last session. Swatland
explained that the Coast Guard would facilitate Tongan officials
their maritime law enforcement priorities, including fisheries
protection, counter-narcotics, immigration and trafficking of
persons. He eased Tongan concerns by emphasizing that the USCG would
not operate unilaterally within Tonga's EEZ. With the agreement of
the final text, Acting Secretary Tone and Solicitor General Kefu
said they would submit the agreement to Tonga's Cabinet for
approval. Tone agreed to forward the final text under cover of a
diplomatic note. He underlined that there would be no substantive
changes to the text. Tone also agreed to a formal signing ceremony
no later than August 2009. Ambassador noted our intention to have
District 14 Commander Admiral Manson Brown sign the agreement on
behalf of the United States.
3. (U) This will be the sixth shiprider agreement in the region
joining Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands,
Kiribati and the Cook Islands. The Tongan agreement successfully
completes this phase of our initiative to expand USCG maritime law
enforcement authority throughout the Pacific.
MCGANN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHSA PREL EFIS TN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONCLUDES SHIPRIDER AGREEMENT WITH TONGA
1. (U) ON May 15,Ambassador McGann, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District
14 CPT. David Swatland, DAO CMDR Robert Forwood and POL/ECON Chief
James Crowe met with Tonga Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Viliame Va'inga Tone, Solicitor General 'Asipeli 'Aminiasi Kefu and
other government officials in Nuku'alofa to resolve the final
questions regarding a shiprider agreement between our countries. The
delegations used the draft text proposed by the USG as their working
document. Ambassador explained the agreement would allow USCG
vessels with Tongan law enforcement officials onboard to conduct
maritime security patrols within its EEZ. He also drew upon the
success of the ship riders program in Kiribati to describe the
potential benefits of the agreement.
2. (U) In an effective use of pre-meetings by CPT. Swatland, most
issues regarding the draft text had been satisfactorily addressed.
This left only Tongan concerns over the extent of USCG authority
while in their EEZ to be discussed at the last session. Swatland
explained that the Coast Guard would facilitate Tongan officials
their maritime law enforcement priorities, including fisheries
protection, counter-narcotics, immigration and trafficking of
persons. He eased Tongan concerns by emphasizing that the USCG would
not operate unilaterally within Tonga's EEZ. With the agreement of
the final text, Acting Secretary Tone and Solicitor General Kefu
said they would submit the agreement to Tonga's Cabinet for
approval. Tone agreed to forward the final text under cover of a
diplomatic note. He underlined that there would be no substantive
changes to the text. Tone also agreed to a formal signing ceremony
no later than August 2009. Ambassador noted our intention to have
District 14 Commander Admiral Manson Brown sign the agreement on
behalf of the United States.
3. (U) This will be the sixth shiprider agreement in the region
joining Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands,
Kiribati and the Cook Islands. The Tongan agreement successfully
completes this phase of our initiative to expand USCG maritime law
enforcement authority throughout the Pacific.
MCGANN