VZCZCXRO2590
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHAN #0390/01 1141324
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241324Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2636
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0636
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0033

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000390 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS FOR D'ELIA 
DEPT FOR AF/E MBEYZEROV 
DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP DHAYWOOD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT ECON PTER PREL MA
SUBJECT:  Embassy Hosts Port Security Workshop to Draft Law 
 
REF:  Antan 206 
 
¶1. Summary:  Embassy co-hosted an inter-Ministerial workshop 
with the GOM Ports Agency April 21 to draft implementing 
legislation for the International Ship Port Facility 
Security (ISPS) Code.  Following two productive missions by 
the U.S. Coast Guard in 2005(reftel), the main port at 
Tamatave has already been removed from the Port Security 
Advisory (PSA).  Now plans are set to bring other ports up 
to standard and to comply with the GOM's ISPS Code 
obligations as a member of the International Maritime 
Organization (IMO).  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  Officials from the Vice Prime Minister's office, 
Customs, Justice, Transportation, Defense, Police, Foreign 
Affairs, Fisheries, Gendarmes, and the ports of Tamatave, 
Majunga, Diego Suarez, and Tulear attended a day-long 
workshop at the American Cultural Center April 21.  Charge 
d'Affaires opened the event with Port Authority Director 
General Sambalis.  PolEcon Chief delivered a presentation on 
the links between development, trade, and port security, 
then the DATT presented information about the international 
maritime security conference to be held in Antananarivo in 
July.  The rest of the program was devoted to an explanation 
of obligations under the ISPS and drafting a law to 
implement the Code. 
 
U.S. Coast Guard Motivates GOM 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  Following visits by the U.S. Coast Guard Port Security 
Liaison in April and October 2005, the GOM Ministry of 
Transport and Public Works, and its Maritime and River Port 
Agency (APMF), have taken steps to comply with IMO security 
standards.  The main port at Tamatave, which handles most 
overall international shipments and almost all containers, 
was removed from the USCG PSA after sufficient improvements 
were confirmed during the October 2005 visit (reftel). 
Since that time, the Tamatave port, an autonomous and 
privately-managed entity, has continued its upgrade plans to 
secure the perimeter, control access, and improve screening. 
 
¶4.  DG Sambalis emphasized to the assembled GOM officials 
that ISPS Code compliance was mandatory for Madagascar's 
commercial links and its international reputation.  He also 
noted Tamatave had made significant progress under private 
management, and said plans must be accelerated to do the 
same at Majunga, Diego Suarez, and Tulear.  Sambalis also 
informed his colleagues better organization, not financing, 
was the key element to ISPS Code compliance.  For example, 
access control and inter-agency coordination are simple 
steps that must be taken. 
 
Draft Law to Apply the ISPS Code 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  DG Sambalis and his staff conducted a short training 
session to bring the 30 assembled officials up to speed on 
the ISPS Code, then opened a working meeting on a draft 
legal text.  In the spirited four hour debate that ensued, 
Ministry stakeholders expressed their concerns, noted what 
legal authorities they would need to comply with ISPS, 
discussed alternatives, and arrived at a consensus on most 
aspects of the new law.  The Ministry and Port officials 
were engaged and productive throughout the day. 
 
¶6.  At the end of the afternoon, the assembled officials 
agreed by consensus to task the APMF to compile a new draft 
law based on the workshop's comments and input.  They 
established a committee composed of one official each from 
Customs, Justice, Transportation, Defense, Police, and 
Gendarmerie that would approve the draft in the coming 
weeks.  Following committee approval, the draft will pass to 
the Council of Ministers to be accepted for transmission to 
the National Assembly during the next legislative session 
starting in May. 
 
¶7.  Comment:  APMF had pushed for several months to engage 
colleagues from other Ministries with frequent delays, thus 
their request for assistance to bring everyone to one table. 
The Embassy workshop created momentum to enact legislation 
that will allow the GOM to meet its obligations under the 
ISPS Code.  However, DG Sambalis and other attendees noted 
training (ideally by the USCG) as well as financing for some 
needed equipment and construction would be required to make 
major port security upgrades.  End Comment. 
 
 
ANTANANARI 00000390  002 OF 002 
 
 
MCGEE