MORE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR UNODC ANTI-PIRACY ACTIVITIES

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000351 SIPDIS IO for DAS COOK London for Whittlesey E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KCRM EWWT UNODC UN AU UK TZ DJ YM SO KE SE SUBJECT: MORE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR UNODC ANTI-PIRACY ACTIVITIES REF: 2008 UNVIE VIEN 0659, 2008 UNVIE VIEN 0666 ¶1. This is an action request. See paragraph 6. ¶2. At a July 22 meeting, UNODC Operations Division Director Francis Maertens told Charge that UNODC seeks additional voluntary contributions to expand its anti-piracy programs off the Somali coast to additional countries in the region, and to extend UNODC's existing programs in Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles beyond the next 18 months. ¶3. Charge learned from Maertens that the UNODC has received Euros 1.7 million from the European Commission (EC) to fund its anti-piracy efforts in Kenya (e.g., building prosecution capacity), Tanzania and the Seychelles. In addition, UNODC expects an Australian donation of Aus$500,000, and has received some small initial funding, totaling less than $200,000, from Germany and France. ¶4. However, those contributions will be sufficient to cover UNODC's anti-piracy programs in Africa for only 18 months. UNODC has developed excellent relationship with the Kenya government, which has been pressuring it constantly for support. UNODC hopes the EC would be willing to provide longer-term funding, but has not received any commitment beyond the 1.7 million Euros mentioned above. ¶5. According to Mark Shaw, Chief of UNODC's Integrated Programming Unit in Maertens' Division, UNODC's assistance is needed in other countries in the region. For example, Shaw mentioned that the U.S. Embassy in Yemen approached UNODC to inquire about possible technical assistance related to prisons in Yemen. Shaw said that the EC funds could only be used in Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles. Furthermore, UNODC has developed justice/governance proposals for Somaliland and Puntland, with a focus on piracy. ¶6. Action Requested: Mission seeks Washington clarification on the status of previous proposal to use some pariah funds to contribute to UNODC's anti-piracy activities. We note that UNODC Ed Antonio Costa will travel to Kenya and Somalia beginning August 20, so a U.S. decision would be well timed. End Action Requested. ¶7. Comment: UNODC has established itself as a useful player in Kenya and the region and deserves our support to expand its programs, possibly into other countries. Its current work is complementary to current U.S. policy of supporting Kenya as it assumes the burden of prosecuting pirates and at the same time developing other alternative reliable venues for such prosecution. End Comment. Pyatt