Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK398
2009-04-15 22:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

INTERNATIONAL PROCESS ON GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM,

Tags:  PREL PTER SZ 
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VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0398 1052213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 152213Z APR 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6349
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 0339
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0546
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000398 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER SZ
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL PROCESS ON GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM,
ROUND TWO

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000398

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER SZ
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL PROCESS ON GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM,
ROUND TWO


1. Please see request for guidance in paragraph 5.


2. Summary: Ambassador Wolff met with Swiss Permrep Peter
Maurer, at Maurer's request, on April 14 to discuss the
second phase of the Swiss-led "International Process on
Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation." Maurer explained that
Switzerland and the other co-sponsors of the "Process," Costa
Rica, Japan, Slovakia, and Turkey, are planning a workshop
for national counter-terrorism focal points of all UN General
Assembly member states and representatives of relevant
international organizations (IO's) and non-governmental
organizations (NGO's) to be held on October 12-13 in Vienna.
The major objective of such a meeting, Maurer said, is to
enhance communication and networking between national
counter-terrorism focal points. Maurer said that he hoped
the United States would be able to participate in and support
the initiative. Ambassador Wolff said that it would be
critical for such a conference's success to ensure the
participation of the national focal points on
counter-terrorism. He also said he would convey the
initiative for the conference to the Department. End
Summary.


3. Maurer said that the objectives of the October conference
would include an exchange of information on how member states
conduct counter-terrorism (CT) capacity building and on their
respective CT strategies. He also said that he expected the
UN's Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to play a role in the
conference. Noting that he thought the former U.S.
administration was reluctant to support the "Process," Maurer
said that he does not view the "Process" as competing with
the Security Council. He added that the UN does not need
another CT platform and views this next phase as an
opportunity for member states to discuss their own CT
strategies with respect to the implementation of the UN's
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.


4. Wolff reacted by saying that the United States fully
supports the CT agenda in the Security Council and in the
General Assembly (GA),but added that the CT issue has the
propensity to become more politicized in the GA. He pointed
out that since the next "Process" meeting would be open to
the 192 member states, it might be more difficult to obtain
results. Wolff also said that not every country in the
world has a CT focal point and questioned whether if
participation is not at a sufficiently high level across the
board, it would be possible to accomplish anything.


5. Maurer answered that in his estimation, 80-90 countries
have what can reasonably be defined as a CT focal point. He
also pointed out that he intends to hold a preparatory
meeting of about 25 member states in Bern on May 15. He said
he hoped the United States would be able to participate and
conveyed that the May 15 meeting would address key issues
such as the agenda and whether there is a critical mass of
countries that would participate in October. He said that
the outcome of the October meeting would likely be a
non-negotiated chairman's report. USUN requests the
Department's guidance on U.S.G. response to request for
attendance at May 15 meeting by S/CT. Maurer also said that
he had been in touch with the Counter-Terrorism Executive
Director, Mike Smith on this next phase and explained that
Smith had been involved in previous "Process" meetings.
Rice