CHAIRMEN OF 1267 (AL-QAIDA/TALIBAN) SANCTIONS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001109

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER UNGA UNSC PREL
SUBJECT: CHAIRMEN OF 1267 (AL-QAIDA/TALIBAN) SANCTIONS
COMMITTEE, 1373 COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE, AND 1540
COMMITTEE (NONPROLIFERATION) BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL

REF: SECSTATE 117021


1. (U) SUMMARY: The Chairs of the 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban)
Sanctions Committee, the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee
(CTC),and the 1540 (Nonproliferation) Committee jointly
briefed the UN Security Council on November 13. The Chair of
the CTC issued a joint statement emphasizing the need for
coordination between the Committees, and the Chairs described
the work of their Committees over the last six months and
future plans. Following the briefing all Council members, as
well as Switzerland, Sweden, Cuba, Liechtenstein, New
Zealand, Brazil, Spain, Venezuela, the Netherlands,
Australia, Iran, Syria, India and Colombia, made statements.
Ambassador Wolff delivered the U.S. statement drawing on
points included in reftel. Cuba complained, as it has
regularly, that the United States is harboring a known
terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles. Cuba also complained that
the United States did very little to hold Santiago Alvarez
accountable for his criminal acts in support of Posada.
Venezuela and Colombia gave contentious interventions
regarding counter-terrorism measures in Colombia and the
recent Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) concluded between
Colombia and the United States. USUN POL MinCouns responded
to Venezuelan accusations against the U.S. regarding the DCA
drawn from reftel, as summarized below in paragraph 6. END
SUMMARY.


1267 Committee
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2. (U) Austrian Permrep and Chairman of the 1267 Committee,
Thomas Mayr-Harting, noted that the review process is a key
focus of the Committee. Mayr-Harting stated that so far the
Committee has initiated the UNSCR 1822 review of 422 names
and indicated that the last 66 names will be sent to
reviewing States shortly. In addition, the Committee has
discussed 71 entities, of which 50 were confirmed to remain
on the list, 8 were de-listed, and review is still pending on
13 because of the need for additional information. With
regard to narrative summaries of reasons for listing, the
Committee has approved 164 for publication and 294 additional
drafts are being reviewed. Mayr-Harting also noted that
there are currently 30 court cases pending around the world
related to resolution 1267. The Monitoring Team's 10th
report was submitted to the Committee at the end of July and
the Committee will submit its recommendations in due time.
Delegations generally lauded the usefulness of the
instrument, but indicated concerns regarding the credibility
of the 1627 Consolidated List. Several States, including
Spain, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Netherlands, asked
the Council to increase transparency and ensure that the
listing and de-listing processes were sufficiently fair and
clear. These States noted with concern the increasing amount
of domestic 1267-related litigation that has arisen in the
last few years, particularly in European Courts. In
addition, Iran and Syria indicated apprehension regarding the
perceived selectivity of the Committee in focusing on certain
regions while ignoring others. Most States urged the Council
to use the 1267 renewal resolution as an opportunity to
address some fairness concerns in the listing and delisting
processes as a means of ensuring that the regime remains an
effective counterterrorism tool.

1373 Committee
--------------


3. (U) Ranko Vilovic, Croatian Permrep and Chairman of the
1373 Committee, reported that the Committee has finalized the
analysis and adoption of the preliminary implementation
assessments (PIAs) of all UN Member States except one, whose
PIA is expected to be adopted soon. Emphasizing that the
stocktaking process is carried out in stages, Vilovic noted
that the Committee has already finalized 46 files (with
completion in 2010) and that CTED's annual survey of
implementation is before the Committee and should be
submitted to the Council by the end of 2009. Vilovic noted
the increase in focused, on-site visits by CTED, as well as
enhanced cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Action Group
(CTAG),continued support for the Counter-Terrorism
Implementation Task Force (CTITF) and engagement with the
other Committees. Speakers generally commended the work of
the CTC and CTED, including their increased cooperation with
CTAG and the CTITF, and praised the Committee's progress on
PIAs. Several States, including Sweden (on behalf of the
European Union),Mexico, and Costa Rica, mentioned the need
to keep in mind human rights norms during the Committee's
work, though Vietnam emphasized that these concerns should be
considered in the context of counterterrorism.






1540 Committee
--------------


4. (U) Costa Rican Permrep and Chairman of the Committee
established pursuant to resolution 1540, Jorge Urbina,
recalled the three-day open meeting and interactive sessions
held by the Committee from 30 September - 2 October 2009 as
part of its Comprehensive Review. In the last six months
1540 Committee representatives have participated in 20
workshops and meetings outside UN Headquarters. In addition,
the Committee has continued its engagement in: 1540-specific
regional workshops organized by the UN Office for Disarmament
Affairs (UNODA),regional workshops organized in
collaboration with other UN bodies, regional workshops
organized by Member States in cooperation with the 1540
Committee, meetings organized by other organizations or by
Member States, and country-specific activities. Urbina also
noted that in response to resolution 1810 the Committee is
intensifying efforts to develop its clearing-house function
for channeling assistance to Member States, as well as
continuing cooperation with the other Security Council
Committees and related organizations. States expressed
support for the Committee's Comprehensive Review and
generally encouraged continued open debate and coordination
with the other Committees. The French, UK and the Russian
Federation also called for an increased focus on assisting
States, when necessary, in implementing their obligations
under resolution 1540, and for increased transparency and
efficiency in providing such assistance.


Cuba & Venezuela Interventions
--------------


5. (U) Cuba noted that while it has submitted detailed
information to the committee on terrorist acts against Cuba
and the protection of certain culprits by the United States,
it has not resulted in action. In particular, Cuba pointed
out the cases of Santiago Alvarez and Luis Posada Carriles.
After expounding on Posada's history and present
circumstances, Cuba demanded that the United States extradite
Posada or prosecute him for terrorist acts, not just
immigration offences. Venezuela took up the Cuban line on
Posada, again emphasizing the American role in his history
and noting the lack of action on a Venezuelan extradition
request. Venezuela claimed that U.S. actions amounted to a
violation of resolution 1373. With regard to Alvarez, Cuba
alleged that he had been caught with grenades, C-4 explosives
and detonation cords to be used in terrorist acts against
Cuba, but that the United States had decided not to press
terrorism charges and Alvarez served only 11 months of a
4-year prison term.


Colombia & Venezuela Exchanges on DCA; U.S. Response
-------------- --------------


6. (U) Columbia emphasized the value of international
support - especially U.S. support -- in Columbia's efforts to
fight domestic terrorism, particularly the FARC and ELN.
Colombia linked this to the DCA and challenged Venezuela's
mischaracterizations of the parameters of the DCA. Further,
Colombia noted Venezuela's unwillingness to cooperate with
Colombia on combating criminal groups, citing several
examples. Venezuela made a further statement in which it
emphasized the effect Colombia's internal conflict has on
neighboring countries and called on Colombia to end its
expansionist policies, referencing in particular the DCA with
the U.S. In response, the U.S. representative delivered the
DCA points in reftel as well as late-breaking WHA points
welcoming Venezuela's interest in international cooperation
against terrorism, noting that a desire to ensure
high-quality dialogue with Venezuela on such areas of mutual
interest was one of the reasons the United States
re-established relations at the ambassadorial level in July,
and stating the hope that Venezuela's interest in the topic
will encourage meaningful dialogue, though Venezuela has not
yet taken advantage of the opportunity.
RICE