EU INTERESTED IN A REGIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000046 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INSB AND S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2025 TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PTER XD XG AS BG SUBJECT: EU INTERESTED IN A REGIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM TRAINING CENTER IN BANGLADESH REF: 09 DHAKA 1033 - UN PROPOSES REGIONAL TRAINING CTR Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The European Union (EU) is interested in supporting the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED) proposal to establish a regional counterterrorism training center in Bangladesh. The EU will send a scoping mission to Bangladesh in January to discuss establishing the center with Government of Bangladesh (GOB) officials and representatives from other potential donors. The scoping mission's findings will be shared with potential donors. Several diplomatic missions are likely to provide funding and/or technical support for a feasibility study after reviewing the scoping mission's findings. The USG should begin considering whether to provide funding if this project moves forward satisfactorily. EU Shows Interest in Regional Training Center -------------- ¶2. (C) Milko Van Gool, EU Head of Cooperation, told us and other interested diplomatic missions that the EU was interested in supporting the UN CTED proposal to establish a regional counterterrorism training center in Bangladesh. The EU initiated the process to mobilize funds under its Instrument of Stability, which would enable the EU to appropriate funding relatively quickly, in order to send a scoping mission to Bangladesh in January or as soon as the proper experts were available. The scoping mission would comprise officials from the European Commission's (EC) European External Action Service (EEAS) as well as member state officials. The mission would meet with both Bangladesh Government agencies and potential donors. The scoping mission's intent is to present its findings to the EC by March in order to be included in the EU's current budget planning. Initial funding, if approved, could total 1.5 million Euros with additional appropriations possible in the future. GOB Commitment Key -------------- ¶2. (C) Van Gool emphasized that the EU did not want to be the sole source of funding for the center and added that a requirement for EU support would be GOB commitment to the project. If the EU decided to move forward with the project, it would consult with other donors as to what sort of support to provide. (Note: Interested donors expect the GOB would provide buildings and/or land for the center as the EU and other possible donors do not favor using project funds on new building infrastructure or land purchases. End note.) Van Gool said he would share the scoping mission's finding with the United States and other interested parties. Potential Donors Express Interest -------------- ¶3. (C) Several missions at the briefing expressed interest in examining the proposed training center. Britain was willing to provide technical support during the initial assessment stages. Denmark had some funding available for the feasibility phase and may be able to provide fairly quickly additional funding to establish the center, pending the scoping mission and feasibility study's findings. Australia would also contribute funds for the feasibility study. Spain, Japan, and Canada stated they would wait for the feasibility study's findings before deciding whether and how it would provide support for the center. DHAKA 00000046 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Support for establishing a regional counterterrorism training enforcement center has gained critical mass for moving forward. We expect to receive detailed feedback on the scoping mission's findings. The next step, following the scoping mission, would be for the interested parties to determine which donors intend to provide funding and/or technical support for the feasibility study. Pending the findings of the feasibility study, we believe that such a center could well serve the U.S. goals of promoting regional cooperation against terrorism in South Asia. Post recommends that Department begin considering whether USG funds might be made available for the project. MORIARTY