Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10DHAKA46
2010-01-14 04:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

EU INTERESTED IN A REGIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM

Tags:  PREL PINS PGOV PTER XD XG AS BG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0046/01 0140419
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 140419Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9882
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0353
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0086
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0293
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2220
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0033
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0003
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0511
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0141
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1203
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0197
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
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
-------

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