U.S.-EU TROIKA: TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BRUSSELS 002939

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, S/CT (GRAY),NEA/NGA, NEA/IAI; PASS
DOJ FOR MRICHARD
LONDON FOR TUELLER, THE HAGUE FOR MULREAN, LUXEMBOURG FOR

FEIFER, ROME FOR DEMPSEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/08
TAGS: PTER PREL EUN KPAL IS PINR
SUBJECT: U.S.-EU TROIKA: TERRORISM


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY WILLIAM R. REGAN, USEU. REASON 1.5
(B) AND (D).

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SUMMARY
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2. (C) THE MAY 7 U.S.-EU TROIKA DISCUSSIONS ON TERRORISM
COVERED THE WATERFRONT, BUT SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS PAID TO
THE EU'S RELATIONS WITH IRAN, WHERE IT PLEDGED CONTINUED
VIGILANCE, AND ITS COOPERATION PROGRAMS WITH THE
PALESTINIANS (SEE PARAS 15-17 BELOW). THERE WAS WIDE
CONVERGENCE OF VIEWS ON TERRORIST TRENDS, THE RUSSIAN
PROPOSAL FOR A NUCLEAR TERRORISM CONVENTION, AND THE INDIAN
MOVE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TREATY ON TERRORISM.


3. (U) THE U.S. WAS REPRESENTED BY S/CT GORDON GRAY,
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPRESENTATIVE DREW ARENA, AND USEU
POLOFF BILL REGAN. VINCENT FEAN, JOINED BY RUPERT JOY AND
KATE COLLINS, REPRESENTED THE UK PRESIDENCY. ROUNDING OUT
THE TROIKA WERE ROBERT ROLLINGER OF LUXEMBOURG AND PETER
PRAMBERGER, MARINA CHRYSTOPH, PETER BLUMAUER, AND MS. HAMIDI
OF AUSTRIA. HENK VAN DER ZWAN REPRESENTED THE COUNCIL
SECRETARIAT AND MICHEL IPAS AND HANS FEDDERSEN THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION.

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U.S.-EU STATEMENT
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4. (C) THE EU AGREED TO A JOINT STATEMENT ON SHARED
OBJECTIVES AND CLOSE COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF
COUNTERTERRORISM. FEAN NOTED THAT EU VIEWED THE STATUS OF
THE DOCUMENT AS A RESTRICTED WORKING PAPER, THUS NOT FOR
PUBLIC RELEASE. IN RESPONSE TO U.S. ARGUMENTS FOR MAKING
OUR COOPERATION ON TERRORISM PUBLIC, FEAN SAID THAT THE EU
TROIKA FAVORED A PUBLIC DOCUMENT AND PLEDGED TO WORK WITH
THE U.S. TO ADDRESS THE ONE SENTENCE IN THE CURRENT PAPER
WHICH THE EU WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE MADE PUBLIC. FOLLOWING
THE MEETING, FEAN, JOY, AND GRAY WORKED OUT BRIDGING
LANGUAGE WHICH THE UK PROMISED TO CIRCULATE TO ITS EU
PARTNERS.

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TERRORISM TRENDS/THREATS
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5. (C) THE UK PRESENTATION NOTED A DECREASE IN TERRORIST
INCIDENTS IN THE EU SINCE LAST FALL'S TROIKA, PRIMARILY DUE
TO A REDUCTION IN TENSIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND. HOWEVER,
THE THREAT OF INDIGENOUS VIOLENCE THERE AND IN SPAIN (ETA
ATTACKS) AND FRANCE (MOSTLY CORSICA) REMAINS SIGNIFICANT.
THERE HAD BEEN NO TERRORIST ATTACKS BY NON-EU GROUPS ON EU
SOIL SINCE THE LAST TROIKA, BUT FUND-RAISING, PROPAGANDA,
AND RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES BY EXTERNAL TERRORIST GROUPS
CONTINUE. LUXEMBOURG MENTIONED AN INCREASE IN COOPERATION
BETWEEN TERRORISTS AND ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GROUPS.


6. (C) THE UK PRESIDENCY MADE A SPECIAL PLEA ON BEHALF OF
FRANCE FOR CLOSE COOPERATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION SHAING,
IN LIGHT OF THE WORLD CUP SOCCER GAMES TO BE HELD IN FRANCE
THIS JUNE. FRANCE IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED BY THREATS FROM
EXTREME LEFTIST/ANARCHIC GROUPS PROTESTING THE GAMES'
COMMERCIAL DIMENSION, ISLAMIC GROUPS, AND THOSE TARGETING
PARTICULAR NATIONAL TEAMS OR INDIVIDUALS (PLAYERS OR HIGH-
PROFILE FANS). THE UK MADE A SIMILAR PLEA, ON BEHALF OF
PORTUGAL, FOR INFORMATION ON THREATS TO THE EXPO 98 IN
LISBON. THE U.S., NOTING ON-GOING COOPERATION ON THESE
EVENTS, UNDERTOOK TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND SHARE INFORMATION
ON POTENTIAL THREATS WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF FRANCE AND
PORTUGAL.


7. (C) GRAY REVIEWED U.S. PERCEPTIONS OF TERRORIST TRENDS,
NOTING AN OVERALL DECLINE IN ATTACKS BUT INCREASES IN THE
LETHALITY OF ATTACKS AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM. THE U.S.
REMAINS TROUBLED BY INCREASED ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS, THE
RISE OF RELIGIOUSLY-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE, AND THE
FRAGMENTATION OF TERRORIST GROUPS.

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IRAN, IRAQ, LIBYA
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8. (C) GRAY SURVEYED DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAN SINCE KHATAMI'S
ELECTION, EMPHASIZING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DEMONSTRATED
HIS INCLINATION TO CHANGE IRAN'S FOREIGN POLICY BUT DOES NOT
YET HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO COMPLETELY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE
U.S. OBSERVES CONTINUED IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM,
INCLUDING THE KAZAKSTAN INCIDENT IN FEBRUARY, THE
ASSASSINATIONS OF DISSIDENTS ABROAD, THE FATWHA AGAINST
RUSHDIE, AND SUPPORT FOR GROUPS VIOLENTLY OPPOSED TO THE
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.


9. (C) ALTHOUGH IRAN MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO
EXTERNAL INFLUENCE ON THIS QUESTION, THE U.S. AND EU SHOULD
CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER TO PUSH TEHRAN IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, SAID GRAY. HE THEN URGED THE EU TO
CONTINUE, IF NOT STRENGTHEN, ITS SYPHORE SYSTEM TO REVIEW
VISA APPLICATIONS OF IRANIAN OFFICIALS; REVIEW THE SIZE OF
MOIS STATIONS IN EU CAPITALS; INCLUDE TERRORISM IN THE EU'S
RENEWED DIALOGUE WITH IRAN; AND NOT BE SHY ABOUT CRITICIZING
IRAN IF IT IS TIED TO NEW TERRORIST INCIDENTS.


10. (C) FEAN RESPONDED THAT EU FOREIGN MINISTERS IN
FEBRUARY HAD PLEDGED TO KEEP UP POST-MYKONOS VIGILANCE ON
IRANIAN TERRORISM. EU COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERTS PERFORMED AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE TERRORIST THREAT UNDER THE NEW IRANIAN
REGIME, AND HAD COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION AS THE U.S. THE
SYPHORE SYSTEM WILL UNDERGO A TECHNICAL (NOT POLICY) REVIEW
TO SEE HOW IT IS WORKING AND TO LOOK FOR AREAS OF
IMPROVEMENT; THE REVIEW MAY BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF JUNE.
FEAN EMPHASIZED THAT THE CONTROL OF MOIS STATIONS IS
STRICTLY A MEMBER STATE MATTER, AND URGED US TO APPROACH
CAPITALS ON THIS QUESTION. TERRORISM WILL BE ON THE EU'S
AGENDA WITH IRAN WHEN TALKS BEGIN IN BRUSSELS ON MAY 19.
FEAN STRESSED THAT OUR POINT ABOUT NOT BEING SHY DEPENDS IN
LARGE PART ON U.S. WILLINGNESS TO SHARE, EVEN BILATERALLY,
INFORMATION LINKING IRAN TO TERRORIST ATTACKS. IN REPLY,
GRAY NOTED THAT THE U.S. HA RECENTLY SHARED INFORMATION ON
MOIS ACTIVITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN, AND UNDERSCORED THAT THE U.S.
WOULD CONTINUE TO SHARE SUCH INFORMATION WITH EU MEMBER
STATES IN THE FUTURE.


11. (C) THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. AND
EU THAT IRAQ AND LIBYA HAD NOT SPONSORED TERRORIST ATTACKS
IN RECENT TIMES, BUT RETAINED THE CAPABILITY TO DO SO. THE
UK NOTED THAT THE EU HAS LONG HAD AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR
SCREENING IRAQI VISA APPLICANTS.

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DESIGNATION OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
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12. (C) GRAY REVIEWED THE U.S. DESIGNATIONS OF FOREIGN
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND UPDATED THE EU ON THE RESULTS TO
DATE AND THE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE LEGISLATION AND THE
DESIGNATIONS. ARENA EDUCATED THE EU ABOUT THE HOW THE
CHALLENGES WOULD WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE U.S. COURTS.
THIS TOPIC DOMINATED THE SUBSEQUENT LUNCH DISCUSSION,
PARTICULARLY AS THE UK IS CONTEMPLATING LEGISLATION TO
CRIMINALIZE TERRORIST FUNDRAISING.

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INTRA-EU COOPERATION AND EUROPOL
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13. (C) ACCORDING TO THE UK, EU JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
MINISTERS LATER THIS MONTH WILL CONSIDER A STEPPED-UP
PROGRAM OF INTRA-EU COOPERATION ON TERRORISM. ONE ITEM WILL
ENCOURAGE JOINT MEMBER STATE ACTION AGAINST IDENTIFIED
TERRORIST GROUPS. THE UK WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH OTHER
MEMBER STATES AGAINST CREDIT-CARD FRAUD BY ISLAMIC GROUPS.
THE AUSTRIANS NOTED THAT, AS A FOLLOW-ON TO THE NOVEMBER
1997 SEMINAR IN LUXEMBOURG ON TERRORIST FINANCING, THEY
INTEND TO HOST A SEMINAR IN VIENNA DURING 21-22 OCTOBER.
GRAY THANKED THEM FOR THE INVITATION AND INDICATED THAT THE
U.S. LIKELY WOULD ATTEND.


14. (C) DURING ITS PRESIDENCY THE UK HAS HOSTED THREE
EVENTS DESIGNED TO FOSTER CLOSER COOPERATION AMONG EU
PARTNERS: A TWO-WEEK SEMINAR ON BOMB-SCENE MANAGEMENT, A
SEMINAR ON ARMS TRAFFICKING, AND THE FIRST-EVER SEMINAR ON
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM. ARENA SEIZED ON THE
SECOND ITEM TO EXPLAIN THAT THE BROADER DISPUTE SURROUNDING
U.S. ARMS EXPORTS TO THE EU HAD A TERRORISM DIMENSION.


15. (C) AS FOR EUROPOL, THE UK EXPLAINED THAT ALL BUT TWO
MEMBER STATES HAD RATIFIED THE TREATY, AND IT IS HOPED THAT
THOSE FINAL RATIFICATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE BY THE FALL. THE
TREATY STIPULATES THAT EUROPOL IS TO TAKE ON TERRORISM NO
LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER IT BEGINS OPERATIONS, BUT SPAIN
IS PROPOSING THAT IT BEGIN WORK IN THIS FIELD IN JANUARY

1999. THE EU JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS MINISTERS WILL
CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL AT THEIR MAY MEETING. AT ANY RATE,
THE UK CONTINUED, EUROPOL WILL TAKE AN INCREMENTAL APPROACH
TO THE PROBLEM FIRST WORKING TO SUPPORT MEMBER STATES,
PERFRM DATA ANALYSIS, AND FACILITATE INFORMATION EXHANGES;
SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WOULD DEVELOP RELATINS WITH THIRD-
COUNTRIES.

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COOPERATION WITH THE PALESTINIANS
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16. (C) THE UK REVIEWED ITS THREE-YEAR PROGRAM OF
COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION WITH THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
(PA). HAVING JUST COMPLETED A REVIEW OF THE FIRST YEAR, THE
UK SAID THE PROJECT IS OFF TO A "DECENT START" AND THAT
COOPERATION WITH THE PA IS GOOD. THE EU HAS SENT SIX FACT-
FINDING MISSIONS FROM MEMBER-STATE SECURITY SERVICES TO THE
REGION, INCLUDING ON MANAGEMENT, EXPLOSIVE DISPOSAL, SEARCH,
INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES, AND SURVEILLANCE. IN THE FUTURE THE
EU HOPES TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND
SECURE COMMUNICATIONS.


17. (C) THE UK SAID LOCAL LIAISON BETWEEN NEILS ERICSON
AND THE U.S. HAS IMPROVED SINCE LAST FALL, AND THE EU ASKED
THAT THE U.S. TAKE BACK TO WASHINGTON THE UNION'S STRONG
DESIRE TO KEEP UP THIS LIAISON.


18. (C) DURING UK PRIME MINISTER BLAIR'S RECENT VISIT TO
THE MIDDLE EAST, THE EU AND PA SIGNED AN AGREEMENT
ESTABLISHING A SECURITY COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE, WHICH
MEETS FORTNIGHTLY AND IN TIMES OF CRISIS, DOES NOT DUPLICATE
ERICSON'S WORK, BUT DISCUSSES JOINT SECURITY EFFORTS,
OBSTACLES TO BETTER COOPERATION, INFORMATION EXCHANGES, AND
HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION. ALTHOUGH NOT ADMITTED PUBLICLY,
THE PA ACCEPTS PERIODIC EVALUATIONS OF ITS PERFORMANCE.

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DRAFT UN CONVENTION ON NUCLEAR TERRORISM
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19. (C) THE EU PRESIDENCY AND U.S. SHARED SIMILAR
ASSESSMENT OF THIS RUSSIAN INITIATIVE (THE EU TROIKA MET
LATER IN THE DAY WITH A RUSSIAN DELEGATION AND RAISED THIS
ISSUE). DESPITE EARLY SKEPTICISM, IT APPEARED THAT RUSSIA
WAS WILLING TO WORK ON A VIABLE TREATY. THE U.S. IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE JUNE 4-5 MOSCOW MEETING OF LEGAL EXPERTS OF
THE EIGHT TO DISCUSS THE TEXT. THE U.S. AND EU MEMBER
STATES COORDINATED WELL DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF TERRORIST
BOMBINGS, AND THE U.S. WOULD LIKE THAT COORDINATION TO
CONTINUE.

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INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS ON TERRORISM
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20. (C) AFTER DISTRIBUTING A SPREADSHEET SHOWING WHAT
MEMBER-STATES HAD SIGNED AND RATIFIED WHAT CONVENTIONS, THE
UK CONCLUDED THAT THERE WERE FEWER GAPS IN THE SHEET THAN
BEFORE. THE EU'S TERRORISM WORKING GROUP, WHICH MET ON MAY
6, MADE A MORAL (NOT LEGALLY BINDING) COMMITMENT TO HAVE
MEMBER STATES IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION FOR THE TERRORIST
BOMBING CONVENTION BY 2000. GRAY NOTED THAT THE EIGHT HAS
CALLED ON ALL STATES TO BECOME PARTY TO ALL ELEVEN
CONVENTIONS BY THE YEAR 2000, AND THE U.S. HOPES THE EU CAN
ADOPT THE SAME POLICY. THE UK STRESSED THAT THESE ARE
NATIONAL DECISIONS -- I.E., NOT MADE IN BRUSSELS. MOREOVER,
THE EU HAS BEEN ADVOCATING TO THE ACCESSION STATES OF
CENTRAL EUROPE AND CYPRUS TO SIGN AND RATIFY ALL THE
CONVENTIONS. THE EU PROMISED TO PROVIDE A SIMILAR
SPREADSHEET ON THESE COUNTRIES.

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COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION ON TERRORISM
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21. (C) THE UK NOTED THAT IT WILL RAISE THIS INDIAN
PROPOSAL WITH THE RUSSIANS LATTER THAT DAY. THE EU HAS NO
FORMAL POSITION ON THIS QUESTION, BUT IN 1996 THE TERRORISM
WORKING GROUP DISCUSSED A SIMILAR IDEA AND CONCLUDED THAT IT
WOULD BE UNHELPFUL AND DIVISIVE. GRAY AGREED COMPLETELY,
AND NOW THE TRICK IS TO DETERMINE HOW TO STAVE OFF OR SLOW
DOWN THE INDIAN EFFORT.

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OUTREACH
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22. (C) THE UK EXPLAINED ITS OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO RUSSIA,
THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN STATES, AND CYPRUS, DESCRIBING THEM AS
FRUITFUL AND SUBSTANTIVE. THERE IS SOME CONFUSION IN THESE
COUNTRIES BETWEEN TERRORISM AND ORGANIZED CRIME SINCE THE
LATTER OFTEN USES VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FORMER. THE
EU ALSO OUTLINED THE DISCUSSION OF TERRORISM IN ITS DIALOGUE
WITH THE GCC AND IN THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP. THE
U.S. DESCRIBED ITS OUTREACH PROGRAM WITH THE OAS,
EMPHASIZING THE USEFULNESS OF SUCH REGIONAL DIALOGUE BUT
NOTING THAT THE BEST COOPERATION OFTEN OCCURS BILATERALLY.

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TALEBAN, AUSTRIAN PRIORITIES, NEXT TROIKA
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23. (C) GRAY PRESSED THE EU FOR A RESPONSE TO A DEMARCHE
IN MARCH ASKING THE EU TO RAISE TALEBAN SUPPORT FOR USAMA
BIN LADEN IN ITS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TALEBAN. THE EU DID
NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE REQUEST, AND PLEDGED TO GET BACK
TO US. (COMMENT: USEU IS STILL WAITING FOR A PROMISED
REPLY TO REPEATED REQUESTS TO THIS DEMARCHE. END COMMENT.)


24. (C) THE AUSTRIANS SAID THEIR PRIORITIES WOULD BE THE
SEMINAR ON TERRORIST FINANCING NOTED ABOVE, THE CONTINUATION
OF WORKING GROUP BUSINESS, CONTINUATION OF PRACTICAL WORK
WITH THE PALESTINIANS, AND WORKING ON THE NUCLEAR TERRORISM
CONVENTION. TRANSATLANTIC COOPERATION IS OF GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO AUSTRIA'S PRESIDENCY, THEY CONCLUDED. GRAY
REQUESTED THAT WE BOTH REMAIN FOCUSED ON IRAN. HE ALSO
SUGGESTED THAT WE COULD DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM AND
HUMAN RIGHTS.


25. (C) AUSTRIA SET THE NEXT TERRORISM TROIKA FOR NOVEMBER
25, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. GRAY AGREED, AND EXPRESSED
HIS APPRECIATION FOR AUSTRIA'S WILLINGNESS TO HOST A WORKING
DINNER THE NIGHT BEFORE AND TO BEGIN THE NOVEMBER 25 MEETING
EARLY ENOUGH TO ALLOW WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVES TO RETURN
TO THE U.S. IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY.

(DRAFTED: POL: WREGAN)


KURSCH