INTERNATIONAL PROCESS ON GLOBAL COUNTER-TERRORISM,

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