DECEMBER 2009 WMD TERRORISM WORKSHOP IN TURKMENISTAN

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000439 IO/T FOR TONY HENDON ISN FOR TOM WUCHTE INL FOR CHRISTINE CLINE USOSCE THE HAUGE FOR OPCW SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: PREL UN PTER KCRM TX SUBJECT: DECEMBER 2009 WMD TERRORISM WORKSHOP IN TURKMENISTAN ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) circulated an updated draft agenda for their 01-03 December 2009 workshop in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, entitled "Workshop for Central Asian Countries on Non-Proliferation and International Legal Cooperation Against Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear Terrorism." This workshop illustrates the important cooperation that is growing among the Vienna-based multilateral organizations including the UNODC, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). The Turkmenistan workshop includes a series of presentations by IAEA, OSCE, UNODC, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW),and CTBTO officials related to their respective organizations' contributions to fighting chemical, biological, and nuclear terrorism, as well as discussion of enhancing synergies among the organizations on weapons of mass destruction-related counter terrorism programs. This increased level of cooperation is a key tri-mission goal in Vienna and we will continue to encourage further coordination. END SUMMARY. -------------- Overview of UNODC Workshop -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The UNODC TPB released a draft agenda for their "Workshop for Central Asian Countries on Non-Proliferation and International Legal Cooperation Against Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear Terrorism" scheduled to be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan from 01-03 December. The workshop agenda demonstrates the level of coordination the TPB has undertaken in promoting the counter terrorism legal framework related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD),and, in particular, nuclear terrorism, through the number and variety of organizations TPB has asked to participate, including the IAEA, OSCE, OPCW, and CTBTO. Presentations and discussions include ones focused on the treaty on a nuclear free zone in Central Asia (the Semipalatinsk Treaty),the Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB), implementation of the Semipalatinsk Treaty in the context of the CTBT, implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention, obligation of states under Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004),and OSCE commitments on countering proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear terrorism. TPB officials report that they are pleased with the broad spectrum of speakers and hope the workshop will result in a growing awareness of the need to promote the counter terrorism conventions - including the ones related directly or indirectly to WMD - in an integrated manner. The full draft agenda is contained in paragraph 3. UNVIE continues to promote communication among the Vienna-based multilateral organizations, and this workshop demonstrates the type of coordination possible. ¶3. (U) Draft Agenda: 1 December 2009 9:00 - 9:30 Registration of Participants 9:30 - 10:00 Welcome Remarks 10:00 - 11:00 The Treaty on Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia (The Semipalatinsk Treaty) 11:00 - 11:30 Coffee Break 11:30 - 12:15 The Implementation of the Semipalatinsk Treaty and Nuclear Security 12:15 - 13:00 The Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB) 13:00 - 14:30 Lunch 14:30 - 15:15 Questions of Implementation of the Semipalatinsk Treaty in the Context of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty 15:15 - 16:00 The Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, in particular against Terrorism 16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break 16:30 - 17:15 The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) 19:00 - 21:00 Official Dinner 2 December 2009 10:00 - 10:30 Obligation of States under Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) 10:30 - 11:15 Recent Developments Concerning the Global Legal Framework Against Terrorism 11:15 - 11:45 Coffee Break 11:45 - 12:30 OSCE Commitments on Countering Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nuclear Terrorism 12:30 - 14:00 Group Photo - Lunch 14:00 - 14:45 Human Rights Aspects of International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism 14:45 - 15:30 Issues in the Area of International Cooperation Against Offenses Committed with Biological, Chemical, or Radioactive Substances: Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition from the Point of View of a Practitioner 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee Break 16:00 - 16:45 Issues in the Area of International Cooperation Against Offenses Committed with Biological, Chemical, or Radioactive Substances: Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition from the Point of View of a Practitioner 16:45 - 17:15 Questions and Answers - Conclusions of the Day 3 December 2009 10:00 - 11:00 Case Studies on International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism 11:00 - 11:30 Coffee Break 11:30 - 12:15 Case Studies Continued 12:15 - 13:00 Framework for Cooperation Between Law Enforcement Bodies Countering Bioterrorism 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00 - 15:15 The International School of Nuclear Law 15:15 - 16:00 Nuclear Forensics 16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break 16:30 - 17:15 Cooperation in Nuclear Forensics - The Nuclear Smuggling International Technical Working Group (ITWG) 17:15 - 18:00 General Evaluation of the Workshop, Recommendations, Feedback - Closing Remarks ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT. UNVIE, and USOSCE, continue to promote coordination on counter terrorism programs among the multilateral organizations based in Vienna. This workshop, devoted to an exchange of information among the nonproliferation-related organizations, is an innovative step towards assessing the type of coordination possible on WMD-related counter terrorism programs. UNVIE encourages Embassy Ashgabat to consider participating in this workshop. END COMMENT DAVIES