MEETING WITH JEAN PAUL LABORDE, NEW HEAD OF THE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000724 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CT SUBJECT: MEETING WITH JEAN PAUL LABORDE, NEW HEAD OF THE CCITF ¶1. Summary: USUN Legal Adviser met with incoming CCITF (spell our name) head Jean Paul Laborde July 22 for an introductory meeting. Laborde explained that his vision of CCITF was as a coordinator, not an implementer, and politely pressed his case for money to support a modest staff. Laborde, formerly a criminal court judge in France and then the Chief of the Terrorism Prevention Branch in UNODC, seems to have excellent judgment and perspective and should be a distinct asset to UN counterterrorism activities. ¶2. Laborde recognizes that with 24 United Nations entities involved in counterterrorism issues, what is most needed is for CCITF to do its best to coordinate the activities of the other entities. He added that "coordinate" was perhaps not the right word, as he could not realistically direct the other entities, but he intended to do the utmost to promote, and encourage coordination and lack of duplication, in their activities. As an example, he does not think there should be more than one UN representative at counterterrorism conferences. He stressed that the emphasis should be on concrete programs, not attendance at meetings. ¶3. Laborde said he was somewhat surprised when he arrived in New York City to discover that CCITF was not institutionalized within the UN system. He has no funds for a staff or space. He is contemplating a staff of only about five, and estimates that $2.5 million per year would be needed. Laborde asked for USG support, in particular that the USG will not insist on the language "within existing resources," as we and Japan did last year when we consider the organization's budget. He said that he and A/SYG Bob Orr (his nominal predecessor at CCITF) had recently been in Washington for meetings with USG officials, and claimed that he had received a positive reaction at the NSC for his proposed level of funding and staffing for the CCITF. ¶4. Mission believes Laborde will be a dynamic and effective CCITF head and would welcome guidance for responding to Laborde's budget needs. RICE