GICNT: 2009 GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000499 SECSTATE FOR GLOBAL INITIATIVE PARTNER NATIONS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KGIC RS SUBJECT: GICNT: 2009 GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM PLENARY MEETING REPORT, PART 1 OF 3 REF: STATE 53043 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Drew Mann for reasons 1.4, b and d. SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Fifty-nine of 75 partners sent high-level representation to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) Plenary Meeting held in The Hague, Netherlands, June 16-17, 2009. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen hosted the meeting. U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary (AA/S) Eliot Kang and Russian Special Presidential Representative Anatoli Safonov co-chaired the Meeting; both read Presidential statements, reflected on accomplishments to date, and launched the discussion of transforming the GICNT into a durable international institution, which the Co-Chairs refer to as &enhanced implementation.8 The Partners welcomed this discussion; supported an active role for the IAEA; and noted that the Global Initiative Information Portal (GIIP) would be a useful vehicle in facilitating enhancements. Many Partners, interventions echoed the sentiment that the GICNT is an important initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the GICNT Statement of Principles. Throughout the meeting, the U.S. delegation was aware that the Russians aim to retain their influence in the enhancement process: GOR insisted on first producing a Co-Chairs, proposal and then circulating that proposal to the other partners for their consideration; the U.S. delegation was more forward-leaning, strongly favoring generating discussion among partners and seeking their views at the meeting. ¶2. (U) The United States introduced an &Incentive Program,8 which will encourage partners to solicit, and for those who can, to share expertise in all areas that the GICNT Principles cover. On the second day of the meeting, the Dutch introduced a working-group format with four concurrent sessions; this was extremely well-received and sparked lively, fruitful interactions among all participants. Working groups examined exercises; public-private sector cooperation; equipment and technology; and the role of the Global Initiative Information Portal. See paragraphs 21 to 26. ¶3. (U) The U.S. delegation held bilateral consultations on the margins of the GICNT Plenary. In addition to offering their respective views on how to improve the Global Initiative, these partners also raised other topics: the Netherlands (European security, Iran, and missile defense), Russia (nuclear energy),Spain (enrichment and reprocessing), France (forensics),and UK (enrichment and reprocessing). Summaries of these meetings begin at paragraph 32. END SUMMARY. ENHANCED IMPLEMENTATION -------------- ¶4. (U) The U.S. and Russian Co-Chairs introduced the &enhanced implementation8 concept as a response to President Obama,s call for the GICNT to become a &durable international institution.8 The enhancements would include use of the advisory body, the Implementation and Assessment Group, which would provide strategic, integrated planning of GICNT activities, a notion that was well-received and in demand. ¶5. (SBU) U.S. Head of Delegation AA/S Kang introduced general concepts of enhanced implementation of the GICNT during his opening remarks. These included: --Facilitating capacity building: Sharing of best practices and introduction to the U.S. Incentive Program. --Enhancing implementation of the GICNT: Identifying a policy-making body and better coordination of exercise planning. --GICNT emphasis for 2009-2010: Proposal to focus on the first two Principles ) materials control and accounting, and Qfirst two Principles ) materials control and accounting, and security of civilian nuclear facilities. --Retaining focus on nuclear detection: Recognizing work on a Model Guidelines Document for Nuclear Detection Architecture, and calling attention to nuclear forensics as an additional area for partners, focus. --Global Initiative Information Portal: Calling on it to be utilized more intensively, including for subject matter expert collaboration, and for real-time activity coordination and implementation among GICNT partners. -- Outreach: Continuing outreach to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and to build relationships with the private sector, academia, and key non-governmental entities. AA/S Kang made special mention of the World Institute of Nuclear Security as an organization that is positioned to help implement the Global Initiative. ¶6. (U) AA/S Kang read the U.S. Presidential Statement to partners. This document is also available on the Global Initiative Information Portal (https://global-initiative.info/) under &Dr. Kang, (US) Welcome Remarks8. BEGIN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT: June 16, 2009 I am pleased to send my warmest greetings to all those gathered together at the Plenary Meeting of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. There is no graver danger to global security than the threat of nuclear terrorism, and no more immediate task for the international community than to address that threat. We will succeed in our efforts only if we stand together as partners to prevent the theft, diversion, and misuse of nuclear materials and technologies; to detect the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials; and to respond to, investigate, and prosecute would-be nuclear terrorists. The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism has my fullest support. I commend your efforts and applaud the 75 nations that have joined this initiative. I hope more nations will commit to implementing the Principles of the Global Initiative and work together to increase capacity and share best practices. As I said in Prague a few short months ago, the Global Initiative should become a durable international institution. Please accept my thanks for your hard work on building a better, more secure future. I wish you all the best for a successful meeting. (signed) Barack Obama END PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT. U.S.-RUSSIAN DYNAMICS REGARDING ENHANCED IMPLEMENTATION -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) The U.S. delegation actively sought to generate discussion on &enhanced implementation8 during the plenary sessions, and particularly during the Exercise Working Group. The Russians openly supported making the GICNT &endure8 and introduced the &enhancement8 lexicon (which draws from the U.S.-Russia April 1, 2009 Joint Presidential Statement). GOR MFA Rozhkov privately and repeatedly expressed Russia,s strong preference to produce a U.S.-Russian Co-Chair demarche outlining proposed &enhancements8 first, and only then sending, via joint demarche, an invitation for full partnership consideration and input. He was sufficiently animated on this topic to address it publicly in his concluding remarks on the second day, urging all partners ¬ to make the best the enemy of the good8 when considering enhancements. The Russian delegation also suggested improving the relationship with law enforcement, saying Partners should preserve the individual identity of the GICNT, and remain vigilant not to duplicate other institutions and not to lose mutual trust. Rozhkov suggested that a decision on enhancements should be made during the 2010 Plenary, giving a full year for development and consideration. (NOTE: The GOR likes the GICNT as it now exists. Any change may bring with it a corresponding change to Russia,s influence, hence the urge to move slowly and make only incremental adjustments to the existing initiative. END NOTE.) PARTNERS, VIEWS ON THE FUTURE OF GICNT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Delegations welcomed the idea of enhancing GICNT implementation. While few gave specific suggestions, several offered guidance. France welcomed the President,s Prague speech and urged that the GICNT retain flexibility while strengthening capacity of nations. Germany urged that GICNT be inclusive, allowing participation of non-partners. India said that it looked forward to seeing the GICNT evolve. Qsaid that it looked forward to seeing the GICNT evolve. Jordan suggested that GICNT should explore the interface between preventing nuclear terrorism and other forms of terrorism. South Korea noted the need for all partners to balance nuclear energy and technology with nonproliferation conditions. Spain said that, based on its strong experience with the Exercise Planning Group, the GICNT must go beyond the political level and develop a structured Plan of Work that will produce practical outcomes. Sri Lanka emphasized that the nexus of maritime security and nuclear threat should be further explored within the GICNT. Sweden said the GICNT allows us to identify soft spots for reinforcing efforts and that the GICNT together with other initiatives is useful. UAE described its active legislation framework to combat terrorism, in particular to deny safe haven and prevent terrorist financing (has cooperated by freezing bank accounts, and has an active national counter-money-laundering committee),and suggested that the GICNT could use their combating terrorist financing tool. JOINT CO-CHAIR STATEMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) For the first time at the GICNT Plenary Meetings, Partners had the opportunity to review and provide input into the Joint Co-Chair Statement. The Dutch provided additional language. The Co-Chairs issued the Joint Co-Chair Statement at the end of the Plenary sessions on June 16. It is located in paragraph 20 below and is also available for review on both the State Department web site (http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c18406.htm) and the Global Initiative Information Portal (https://global-initiative.info/). SUPPORT FOR IAEA ROLE IN GICNT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Many partners rallied around the notion that the GICNT should further employ the IAEA to support the initiative,s objectives. They emphasized that the IAEA already provides critical nuclear security guidance that Partners could better utilize. Norway, South Korea, UK, India, and Japan, all expressed support for IAEA involvement in GICNT activities, with some saying the GICNT should consider addressing the security of nuclear energy, since it is a growing industry. The IAEA representative, Anita Nilsson, echoed this theme in her remarks. NEW FORMAT ) WORKING GROUP SESSIONS ON DAY 2 -------------- ¶11. (U) At the Dutch MFA,s suggestion, participants broke into four concurrent working groups on the second day. These technical expert-level meetings produced a collegial dynamic with excellent participation. Partners generated practical suggestions for the Global Initiative Information Portal; examined multi-sector cooperation, including a presentation by the new World Institute of Nuclear Security; discussed forensics and the concept of establishing national nuclear forensics libraries; and reviewed exercises conducted by Australia, Canada, the United States, and discussed the Dutch exercise to take place in November 2009. Summaries of each working group session are at paragraphs 21 to 26. NEW OBSERVER ) INTERPOL -------------- ¶12. (U) On June 15, Washington received a letter from Mr. Jean-Michel Louboutin, Executive Director Police Services, INTERPOL, which expressed interest in having INTERPOL become an official observer to the GICNT. The U.S. and Russian Co-Chairs were pleased to announce INTERPOL as a new official observer to the GICNT during the 2009 Plenary Meeting and look forward to integrating INTERPOL,s expertise into upcoming GICNT exercises and related activities. INTERPOL joins the IAEA and EU as official observers to the GICNT. NEW PARTNER ) BELARUS -------------- ¶13. (U) On June 17 (the second day of the 2009 Plenary Meeting),the Russian delegation informed the U.S. Co-Chair that Belarus had provided a letter of endorsement the day before. Belarus, letter of endorsement was then announced to Partners, also on the 17th. There are now 76 Partners. (Note. The Joint Co-Chair Statement was issued prior to receipt of this letter, and therefore correctly reads &758 Partners.) APPROACH TO POTENTIAL HOSTS OF 2010 PLENARY -------------- ¶14. (SBU) On the margins of the meeting, the U.S. delegation Q14. (SBU) On the margins of the meeting, the U.S. delegation approached the Indian and United Arab Emirates delegations separately to see if either was receptive to hosting the 2010 Plenary. The Indian representative declined, stating that India &is still new8 to the GICNT and wants to have another year of participation in activities before taking on that responsibility. After checking with his capital, the UAE representative expressed receptivity to the idea. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES -------------- ¶15. (SBU) New Zealand announced that it will conduct a table top exercise in late 2009. Italy, as head of the G8, noted that the Rome-Lyon group is working to enhance capacity for emergency response, and announced a workshop on nuclear security and safety to be held in October in Bologna. Italy also noted that it would host a second workshop in October in Rome on science engagement. Japan announced that it would host a seminar in November 2009 for Southeast Asian countries. In a pull-aside with AA/S Kang, the French expressed their interest in hosting a nuclear forensics event in January 2010. ¶16. (SBU) Partners reaffirmed the following upcoming GICNT activities: The Netherlands will conduct Exercise Cobalt in late November 2009. Hungary will host the 4th Exercise Planning Group in November 2009 (Note this will be rescheduled to early 2010). Morocco will host an outreach conference in late 2009, which will target outreach efforts to the Middle East and Africa. Israel will host a workshop in mid-2010, which will focus on legal aspects of nuclear material and forensics. MEDIA COVERAGE -------------- ¶17. (U) Five media outlets showed up for the opening remarks and press conference: AP, AFP, ANP (Dutch National Press Agency),Newswire8, and BNR News Radio. CNN broadcasted the interview with AA/S Kang. END PART ONE OF THREE LEVIN