HCOC - ENCOURAGING SINGAPORE TO SUBSCRIBE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 016555 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2035 TAGS: MTCRE PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA SN SUBJECT: HCOC - ENCOURAGING SINGAPORE TO SUBSCRIBE REF: A. 09 STATE 044998 ¶B. 07 STATE 72346 ¶C. 05 SINGAPORE 3160 ¶D. 03 SINGAPORE 3869 ¶E. 03 STATE 254339 ¶F. 03 SINGAPORE 1566 ¶G. 03 STATE 89910 ¶H. 02 SINGAPORE 3942 ¶I. 02 STATE 215622 ¶J. 02 STATE 209829 ¶K. 02 STATE 237600 ¶L. 02 STATE 238689 ¶M. 02 STATE 259795 Classified By: ISN/MTR DIRECTOR PAM DURHAM FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D),AND (H). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para 3. OBJECTIVE AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶2. (U) Objective: We want Singapore to subscribe to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC). ¶3. (SBU) Action Request: Drawing on the talking points and other information in paras 4-11 below, request post approach appropriate senior-level host government officials at the earliest opportunity and urge them to subscribe to the HCOC. Post is requested to report the GOS's reply via cable slugged for ISN/MTR with "HCOC" in the subject line. (Copies of talking points, text of the HCOC, list of subscribing countries, and sample Note Verbale may be shared with Singapore officials). BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. (C) Background: The United States has encouraged Singapore to subscribe to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) numerous times since 2002 (Refs A-I). While Singapore has said that it has no objections to the HCOC, it has expressed a reluctance to subscribe due to "limited resources." Singapore was one of 159 nations that voted in favor of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 63/64 of December 2008 supporting the HCOC, as well as various predecessor resolutions. ¶5. (C) During the January 26-27, 2010 U.S.-Singapore Counterproliferation Dialogue, Acting Assistant Secretary Vann Van Diepen again pressed the GOS to subscribe, noting that he had raised this issue with Singapore as far back as 2005, and expressing his disappointment that this was still an open issue. Singapore asked what subscribing to the HCOC would entail, reiterating its concerns about Singapore's resource constraints. Van Diepen emphasized that the demands on HCOC Subscribing States ) especially non-missile states like Singapore ) are minimal and consist of each subscribing country providing an annual declaration of its space launch and ballistic missile policies and submitting pre-launch notification of all space launch vehicle and ballistic missile launches. Van Diepen noted that as Singapore has no space launch or ballistic missile program, it could simply submit a "nil" form for its annual declaration each year. Singapore officials agreed to take another look at the HCOC, and indicated that "next time" they might have a "different answer." ¶6. (SBU) Per Refs J-M, the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC; also known as the International Code of Conduct, or ICOC; text at para 9) was formally brought into effect on November 25, 2002, at a Launching Conference hosted by the Netherlands in The Hague. Since then, HCOC Subscribing States have held annual meetings to further elaborate issues relating to the HCOC's implementation, including pre-launch notifications and Subscribing States' annual declarations on space and ballistic missile policies. As of February 2010, 130 countries have subscribed to the HCOC (see para 10). ¶7. (SBU) The HCOC is aimed at bolstering efforts to curb ballistic missile proliferation worldwide, and to further delegitimize such proliferation. The HCOC consists of a set of general principles, modest commitments, and limited confidence-building measures. It is intended to supplement, not supplant, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and is administered collectively by all of the countries that subscribe to it. There is no formal secretariat or implementing organization, and thus we do not foresee any financial burden for Singapore. The HCOC will hold its Ninth Regular Meeting on May 31 - June 1, 2010 in Vienna. ¶8. (C) Begin Text of Talking Points: -- The United States urges Singapore to join us and 129 other countries in actively supporting the international missile nonproliferation efforts by subscribing to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC). -- We have approached your government on several occasions since 2002 concerning the HCOC because the U.S. and the other 129 Subscribing States view the HCOC as an important and meaningful way to help curb the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction (WMD) - proliferation declared by the UN Security Council in Resolution 1540 to represent a threat to international peace and security. -- In our previous discussions with your government, you stated that you did not have any objections to the HCOC, but that you were concerned about a lack of resources. -- Subscribing to the HCOC is the right thing to do, and has no resource implications. -- We would therefore like to again encourage Singapore to subscribe to the HCOC by submitting its Note Verbale to the government of Austria as soon as possible. -- By subscribing, countries show their support for halting the spread of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. -- The HCOC is a political commitment that is open to all countries' voluntary subscription. Because the HCOC is not a treaty or other legally binding obligation, the vast majority of countries are able to subscribe as an executive act without any need for parliamentary approval or ratification. -- As Acting Assistant Secretary Van Diepen noted during the January 26-27, 2010 U.S.-Singapore Counterproliferation Dialogue, there are no assessed contributions or other monetary costs of subscribing. -- As a country with no missile or space launch programs, Singapore's obligations under the HCOC would be minimal. -- Subscribing countries are required only to provide an annual declaration of their space launch and ballistic missile policies, and to submit pre-launch notification of all space launch vehicle and ballistic missile launches. -- Because Singapore has no space launch or ballistic missile program, it could simply submit a "nil" form for its annual declaration each year. -- The current 130 Subscribing States represent every region in the world, including the following Asian/Pacific region countries: Australia, Cambodia, East Timor, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and South Korea. -- In addition, 78 PSI member states have subscribed to the HCOC, including Argentina, Canada, Chile, Jordan, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and all European Union countries. -- The subscription of such a large and diverse group of countries shows that there is widespread support for the HCOC and the idea that (1) the proliferation of WMD-capable ballistic missiles should be impeded, and (2) that countries should voluntarily cooperate to impede this proliferation. -- This notion is underlined by the December 2, 2008 approval by 159 countries in the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution endorsing the HCOC (GA Resolution 63/64). We are grateful that Singapore voted in favor of this resolution, and we hope you will take the next step and subscribe. -- We know Singapore shares the same concerns about missile proliferation as the subscribers to the HCOC, and therefore we strongly urge you to join with us and subscribe. This will allow you to make a concrete political contribution to addressing the global missile threat. -- Your subscription to the HCOC would be greatly appreciated by the United States. -- Singapore can subscribe by sending a Note Verbale to the Government of Austria, which is the Executive Secretary of the HCOC (hcoc@bmeia.gv.at). (Hand over example note at para 11.) -- We look forward to your subscribing promptly to the HCOC, and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the HCOC. END TEXT OF TALKING POINTS ¶9. (U) The government of the Netherlands distributed the HCOC text to all countries invited to the November 2002 Launching Conference. The USG has provided it to the GOS on various occasions. The text is repeated below. Department also has the text in French, Spanish, and Russian available upon request to ISN/MTR. Begin Text of HCOC: International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation Preamble The Subscribing States: Reaffirming their commitment to the United Nations Charter; Stressing the role and responsibility of the United Nations in the field of international peace and security; Recalling the widespread concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; Recognizing the increasing regional and global security challenges caused, inter alia, by the ongoing proliferation of Ballistic Missile systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction; Seeking to promote the security of all states by fostering mutual trust through the implementation of political and diplomatic measures; Having taken into account regional and national security considerations; Believing that an International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation will contribute to the process of strengthening existing national and international security arrangements and disarmament and non-proliferation objectives and mechanisms; Recognising that Subscribing States may wish to consider engaging in co-operative measures among themselves to this end; ¶1. Adopt this International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code'); ¶2. Resolve to respect the following Principles: a) Recognition of the need comprehensively to prevent and curb the proliferation of Ballistic Missile systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction and the need to continue pursuing appropriate international endeavors, including the Code; b) Recognition of the importance of strengthening, and gaining wider adherence to, multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms; c) Recognition that adherence to, and full compliance with, international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation norms help build confidence as to the peaceful intentions of states; d) Recognition that participation in this Code is voluntary and open to all states; e) Confirmation of their commitment to the United Nations Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States taking into particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (Resolution 51/122 of 13 December 1996); f) Recognition that states should not be excluded from utilising the benefits of space for peaceful purposes, but that, in reaping such benefits and in conducting related cooperation, they must not contribute to the proliferation of Ballistic Missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction; g) Recognition that Space Launch Vehicle programmes should not be used to conceal Ballistic Missile programmes; h) Recognition of the necessity of appropriate transparency measures on Ballistic Missile programmes and Space Launch Vehicle programmes in order to increase confidence and to promote non-proliferation of Ballistic Missiles and Ballistic Missile technology; ¶3. Resolve to implement the following General Measures: a) To ratify, accede to or otherwise abide by: - the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies (1967), - the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972), - the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1975); b) To curb and prevent the proliferation of Ballistic Missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, both at a global and regional level, through multilateral, bilateral and national endeavours; c) To exercise maximum possible restraint in the development, testing and deployment of Ballistic Missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, including, where possible, to reduce national holdings of such missiles, in the interest of global and regional peace and security; d) To exercise the necessary vigilance in the consideration of assistance to Space Launch Vehicle programmes in any other country so as to prevent contributing to delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction, considering that such programmes may be used to conceal Ballistic Missile programmes; e) Not to contribute to, support or assist any Ballistic Missile programme in countries which might be developing or acquiring weapons of mass destruction in contravention of norms established by, and of those countries, obligations under, international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties; ¶4. Resolve to implement the following: a) Transparency measures as follows, with an appropriate and sufficient degree of detail to increase confidence and to promote non-proliferation of Ballistic Missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction: i) With respect to Ballistic Missile programmes to: - make an annual declaration providing an outline of their Ballistic Missile policies. Examples of openness in such declarations might be relevant information on Ballistic Missiles systems and land (test-) launch sites; - provide annual information on the number and generic class of Ballistic Missiles launched during the preceding year, as declared in conformity with the pre- launch notification mechanism referred to hereunder, in tiret iii); ii) with respect to expendable Space Launch Vehicle programmes, and consistent with commercial and economic confidentiality principles, to: - make an annual declaration providing an outline of their Space Launch Vehicle policies and land (test-) launch sites; - provide annual information on the number and generic class of Space Launch Vehicles launched during the preceding year, as declared in conformity with the pre- launch notification mechanism referred to hereunder, in tiret iii); - consider, on a voluntary basis (including on the degree of access permitted),inviting international observers to their land (test-) launch sites; iii) with respect to their Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Vehicle programmes to: - exchange pre-launch notifications on their Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Vehicle launches and test flights. These notifications should include such information as the generic class of the Ballistic Missile or Space Launch Vehicle, the planned launch notification window, the launch and the planned direction; b) Subscribing States could, as appropriate and on a voluntary basis, develop bilateral or regional transparency measures, in addition to those above. c) Implementation of the above confidence building measures does not serve as justification for the programmes to which these confidence building measures apply; ¶5. Organisational aspects Subscribing States determine to: a) Hold regular meetings, annually or as otherwise agreed by Subscribing States; b) Take all decisions, both substantive and procedural, by a consensus of the Subscribing States present; c) Use these meetings to define, review and further develop the workings of the Code, including in such ways as: - establishing procedures regarding the exchange of notifications and other information in the framework of the Code; - establishing an appropriate mechanism for the voluntary resolution of questions arising from national declarations, and/or questions pertaining to Ballistic Missile and/or Space Launch Vehicle programmes; - naming of a subscribing state to serve as an immediate central contact for collecting and disseminating Confidence Building Measures submissions, receiving and announcing the subscription of additional States, and other tasks as agreed by Subscribing States; and - others as may be agreed by the Subscribing States, including possible amendments to the Code. ¶10. (U) List of Subscribing States as of February 2010. ¶1. Afghanistan ¶2. Albania ¶3. Andorra ¶4. Argentina ¶5. Armenia ¶6. Australia ¶7. Austria ¶8. Azerbaijan ¶9. Belarus ¶10. Belgium ¶11. Benin ¶12. Bosnia and Herzegovina ¶13. Bulgaria ¶14. Burkina Faso ¶15. Burundi ¶16. Cambodia ¶17. Cameroon ¶18. Canada ¶19. Cape Verde ¶20. Chad ¶21. Chile ¶22. Colombia ¶23. Comoros ¶24. Cook Islands ¶25. Costa Rica ¶26. Croatia ¶27. Cyprus ¶28. Czech Republic ¶29. Denmark ¶30. Dominican Republic ¶31. Ecuador ¶32. El Salvador ¶33. Eritrea ¶34. Estonia ¶35. Ethiopia ¶36. Fiji ¶37. Finland ¶38. France ¶39. Gabon ¶40. Gambia ¶41. Georgia ¶42. Germany ¶43. Ghana ¶44. Greece ¶45. Guatemala ¶46. Guinea ¶47. Guinea-Bissau ¶48. Guyana ¶49. Haiti ¶50. Holy See ¶51. Honduras ¶52. Hungary ¶53. Iceland ¶54. Ireland ¶55. Italy ¶56. Japan ¶57. Jordan ¶58. Kazakhstan ¶59. Kenya ¶60. Kiribati ¶61. Latvia ¶62. Liberia ¶63. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya ¶64. Liechtenstein ¶65. Lithuania ¶66. Luxembourg ¶67. Madagascar ¶68. Malawi ¶69. Maldives ¶70. Mali ¶71. Malta ¶72. Marshall Islands ¶73. Mauritania ¶74. Micronesia (Federated States of) ¶75. Monaco ¶76. Mongolia ¶77. Montenegro ¶78. Morocco ¶79. Mozambique ¶80. Netherlands ¶81. New Zealand ¶82. Nicaragua ¶83. Niger ¶84. Nigeria ¶85. Norway ¶86. Palau ¶87. Panama ¶88. Papua New Guinea ¶89. Paraguay ¶90. Peru ¶91. Philippines ¶92. Poland ¶93. Portugal ¶94. Republic of Korea ¶95. Republic of Macedonia ¶96. Republic of Moldova ¶97. Romania ¶98. Russian Federation ¶99. Rwanda ¶100. Samoa ¶101. San Marino ¶102. Senegal ¶103. Serbia ¶104. Seychelles ¶105. Sierra Leone ¶106. Slovakia ¶107. Slovenia ¶108. South Africa ¶109. Spain ¶110. Sudan ¶111. Suriname ¶112. Sweden ¶113. Switzerland ¶114. Tanzania ¶115. Tajikistan ¶116. Timor-leste ¶117. Tonga ¶118. Tunisia ¶119. Turkey ¶120. Turkmenistan ¶121. Tuvalu ¶122. Uganda ¶123. Ukraine ¶124. United Kingdom ¶125. United States ¶126. Uruguay ¶127. Uzbekistan ¶128. Vanuatu ¶129. Venezuela ¶130. Zambia ¶11. (SBU) Begin text of example Note Verbale: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of (country) presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Austria and has the honour to inform the Republic of Austria that (country) wishes to become a subscribing state to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, which was adopted at an international launching conference held at The Hague on 25 and 26 November 2002, and that it wishes (country) to be included in the list of Subscribing States that will serve as an annex to the aforementioned Code of Conduct. Done at (capital) Date Seal POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶12. (U) Please contact ISN/MTR's John Paul Herrmann or Sarah Ayers with any questions or follow-up issues related to this case (202-647-1430 - herrmannjp@state.sgov.gov or herrmannjp2@state.gov; or 202-647-1142 - ayerssl@state.sgov.gov or ayerssl@state.gov),and slug reporting on this issue for ISN/MTR with "HCOC" in the subject line. ¶13. (U) A word version of this document will be posted at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche. CLINTON