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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 KUALA LUMPUR 001898 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, L/OES, S/CT, DS/ATA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR MASS EWWT IMO MY
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION KUALA LUMPUR MEETING ON 
THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE, SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2006 (PART 
II) 
 
REF: KUALA LUMPUR 1874 
 
¶1.  Summary:  This cable conveys the full texts of four U.S. 
statements presented during the International Maritime Organization 
(IMO) Meeting on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, September 
18-20, 2006, in Kuala Lumpur.  Reftel contains a summary report on 
the conference and the text of the formal Kuala Lumpur Statement 
adopted by participating countries.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
U.S. Delegation Statements 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  BEGIN TEXT OF VADM WURSTER'S PRESENTATION FOR SESSION 3: 
 
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE UNITED STATES AS A USER STATE 
AND THE FUTURE OF COOPERATIVE EFFORTS TO ENHANCE MARITIME SECURITY 
IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA AND SINGAPORE 
 
I am pleased once again to speak on behalf of the United States, a 
fully committed partner in these significant collaborative efforts 
to enhance maritime safety, security and environmental protection in 
the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.  I have met many of you in 
Jakarta and other forums.  So I see many familiar faces, and many 
more new ones.  I look forward to working with each of you over the 
course of the next several days as we address these important 
issues. 
 
As the Secretary General said at last year's conference in Jakarta, 
"in today's world safety, security and environmental protection are 
intertwined and inseparable." 
 
Clearly, efforts such as: 
 
- The sustained efforts and achievements of the Tripartite Technical 
Experts Group on the Safety of Navigation, 
 
- the 4th Tripartite Ministerial Meeting of the Littoral States on 
the Straits of Malacca and Singapore held just over a year ago on 
Batam Island, 
 
- the combined efforts of the armed forces of the littoral States in 
contributing to the security of the Straits through the Malacca 
Straits Sea Patrols, the "Eyes in the Sky" maritime air patrols, and 
the Malacca Straits Patrol Standard Operating Procedures adopted 
last April, 
 
- the Regional Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery 
against Ships in Asia which entered into force just two weeks ago, 
 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  002 OF 009 
 
 
- the continuing implementation of the International Ship and Port 
Facility Security Code, 
 
- various ASEAN Regional Forum activities such as the workshop on 
Capacity Building for Maritime Security hosted by Japan last 
December, 
 
- last month's 4 day table top exercise hosted by Malaysia's 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 
 
- last year's IMO conference hosted by the government of Indonesia, 
 
 
- and this year's IMO conference hosted by the government of 
Malaysia 
 
...all combine to demonstrate willingness and ability to cooperate. 
 
I commend in particular the cooperative efforts that Singapore, 
Indonesia and Malaysia have undertaken during the past year.  These 
efforts build on previous successes and continue to improve the 
quality of safety, security and environmental protection in the 
Straits.  They demonstrate a clear coordinated effort to protect 
these strategically important straits.  The effectiveness of that 
cooperation has been recognized across the globe, to include the 
recent Lloyds' Joint War Committee's decision to remove a war-risk 
rating for merchant ships transiting the Straits precisely because 
of this improvement in security. 
 
Collectively, we seek an effective framework at the political and 
operational levels that facilitates bilateral and multilateral 
progress toward achieving our shared goal of enhancing the safety, 
security and environmental protection of the Straits.  As I said 
last year, this framework should facilitate enhanced awareness of 
the maritime areas, increased operational presence of littoral 
States to enhance deterrence, and improvement in their ability to 
affect timely response.  It should also promote donor coordination 
and prevent redundancy. 
 
The maritime industry and the marine transportation system are 
global ventures.  We can best enhance the safety, security and 
environmental protection of the maritime sector through 
international collaborative partnerships.  This is especially true 
for the Malacca and Singapore Straits, through which one third of 
the world's shipping and half of its oil passes. 
 
As we know, a disruption of shipping traffic through the Straits - 
whether through a navigation accident, catastrophic environmental 
mishap, or terrorist event - would have an immediate and substantial 
negative effect on the entire global economy.  User states rely upon 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  003 OF 009 
 
 
safe navigation and the unimpeded flow of shipping through the 
Straits. We must act together to maintain them. 
 
Those committing unlawful acts against ships and seafarers in the 
Straits, however, have no respect for national sovereignty, freedom 
of navigation, or international law.  These maritime criminals can 
exploit national maritime boundaries and remote areas within the 
territorial seas and archipelagic waters of nearby nations.  The 
enforcement authorities of littoral States face a difficult 
challenge in thwarting this tactic of transnational criminals.  It 
is our collective responsibility to assist littoral States in their 
efforts to enhance their capabilities, while fully respecting the 
sovereignty and sovereign rights of each of the littoral States.  By 
this and other conferences and by bilateral and multilateral 
actions, we are demonstrating our shared responsibility to 
continuously strengthen cooperation among the littoral and user 
states and protect the safety, security and environment of the 
Straits. 
 
In this regard, we welcome the continued commitment of the 
International Maritime Organization to promote collaborative efforts 
towards enhancing safety, security, and environmental protection in 
the Straits.  I think we would all agree that the IMO is an 
organization well suited to address these complex issues.  IMO 
involvement with its Member States ensures that arrangements are 
consistent with international law.  In that connection, I 
congratulate those who are parties to the Convention for the 
Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime 
Navigation (SUA Convention).  I urge those States that have not yet 
done so to ratify or accede to these very important 2005 Protocols 
to the SUA Convention that were adopted last October. 
 
I am confident this conference will again serve as a benchmark 
toward enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in 
the Straits of Malacca and Singapore by building upon last year's 
conference and inter-sessional work, discussions and actions.  We 
look forward in particular to the littoral States' ideas for 
establishing a new mechanism of cooperation with user States and 
other stakeholders in ensuring the safety and environmental 
protection of the Straits.  By working together in this manner, we 
are sending a strong message of international cooperation and 
coordination to the international community.  We also send a clear 
signal to criminal and terrorist elements that we will not tolerate 
their illegal acts that threaten to compromise the safety, security 
and environmental well-being of the Straits. 
 
During the ASEAN Regional Forum hosted by Singapore last year and 
again in this forum, Secretary General Mitropoulos clearly 
articulated what the roles of the littoral and user States should be 
in protecting the Straits.  The littoral States must play a central 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  004 OF 009 
 
 
role in all collaborative efforts to ensure that their sovereignty 
is respected. 
 
User States, likewise make a positive contribution to these 
collective efforts by participating in this process and, more 
importantly, assisting in capacity building.  In our view, this 
collaborative approach: 
- fosters trust, 
- helps to build effective working relationships, and 
- provides the basis for cooperative action.  As a user state, the 
United States enthusiastically supports this approach. 
 
As we move forward, we will be confronted by a number of challenges 
that will test our collective resolve.  We are facing complex 
issues: 
- such as the use of inter-operative technology, 
- the sharing of information, 
- the development of additional common operating procedures, 
- and the negotiation of bilateral and multilateral arrangements 
- in order to achieve seamless connectivity. 
 
These issues are not easy ones, nor are they insurmountable.  We can 
overcome these obstacles by enhancing the process and framework 
already developed to organize our efforts and to provide a focus for 
making further substantive progress. 
 
An effective framework that facilitates progress toward achieving 
that end supports: 
- a forum for cooperative discussion and decision making among all 
stakeholders; 
- information sharing and further regional cooperation; 
- enhanced awareness of the maritime areas; 
- increased operational presence of littoral States to enhance 
deterrence; and 
- improvement in their ability to respond in a timely manner to all 
threats to the safety, security and environment of the Straits. 
 
These vital elements are interrelated. 
 
For example, enhancing deterrence requires an awareness of the 
location of a threat so that appropriate resources could be 
strategically positioned to provide a deterrent effect or to respond 
as necessary.  Finding the threat means that information has to be 
shared freely and widely.  Data such as: 
- commercial ship characteristics, 
- accurate cargo manifests, 
- merchant ship crew lists, 
- sailing times, 
- destinations, 
- and most importantly real-time data on ship locations especially 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  005 OF 009 
 
 
when transiting the Straits, 
are all critical to identifying potential treats. 
By sharing this information, anomalies can be identified and the 
maritime information gaps can be quickly closed. 
 
Additionally, when anomalies are detected or criminal activity 
uncovered, arrangements must already be in place to take action 
within the coastal marine geography of the Straits.  Such 
cooperative arrangements will allow for the transparency of borders 
and timely access to national decision makers. 
 
Along those lines, I applaud the littoral States' recent actions to 
enhance the safety, security and environmental protection in the 
Straits. 
 
It is important to remember, however, that whatever new steps are 
considered -- whether they be tolls, pilotage, or something else -- 
these measures may not have the effect of denying, hampering or 
impairing the right of transit passage through the Straits.  Any 
measure implemented must maintain the balance between the unimpeded 
flow of commerce and the safety and security of the waterways. 
 
It is vital that we continue to build upon these recent developments 
and sustain our momentum.  We recognize the littoral States have the 
responsibility to ensure the safety, security and environmental 
protection of the Straits, and we recognize the role and 
responsibility of the United States as a user state and a 
contributing nation is to assist the littorals in developing their 
capability and capacity to effect maritime safety, security and 
environmental protection.   In preparation for this meeting, we 
hosted the Alameda conference last February of stakeholders to 
facilitate identification of possible assistance from many user 
States and industry that would enhance the capability and capacity 
of the littoral nations.  We imagine that there will be a need for 
additional follow-on sessions for the littoral States to identify 
and prioritize their needs even beyond those we will hear about 
during this conference.  Additionally, we will need to provide user 
States and the maritime industry an opportunity to identify possible 
assistance they can provide in response to the needs identified by 
the littoral nations.  And there must be a mechanism to ensure that 
the assistance is responsive to the identified needs, is 
interoperable, is sustainable, and is not duplicative. 
 
The United States recognizes that the developing framework for 
enhancing the safety, security and environmental protection of the 
Straits must take into account all these complexities.  We remain 
steadfast in our commitment to assist the littoral states and other 
stakeholders in developing a successful cooperative framework for 
the Straits. 
 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  006 OF 009 
 
 
To demonstrate our support, at the appropriate time later during 
this meeting we will give our initial responses to the worthy 
projects the littorals have proposed to enhance the safety and 
environmental protection of the Straits. 
 
We look forward to achieving our common goal of enhancing the 
safety, security and environmental protection of the Straits through 
the cooperative and collaborative efforts of littoral and user 
States. 
 
END TEXT OF VADM WURSTER'S PRESENTATION FOR SESSION 3. 
 
¶3.  BEGIN TEXT OF VADM WURSTER'S PRESENTATION FOR SESSION 8: 
 
EXPLORING MODALITIES FOR FUTURE COOPERATION 
 
I have already presented our main points during session 3.  I shall 
therefore limit my presentation to the subject of this session, 
exploring modalities for future cooperation. 
 
The United States has listened with great interest to the proposal 
by the littoral States for the establishment of a co-operative 
mechanism between them and user States on the safety of navigation 
and environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and 
Singapore. 
 
The United States is particularly pleased that the proposal 
acknowledges the need for a mechanism to promote dialogue and 
facilitate close collaboration between the littoral States, user 
States and other interested parties, while at the same time fully 
respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the littoral 
States. 
 
We also agree that the proposed co-operative mechanism be progressed 
using as its foundation the TTEG on Safety of Navigation. 
 
The proposal for a user States forum for cooperation is right on 
point.  It would promote not only general dialogue between the 
littoral States and user States and other interested parties on 
issues of common interest within the remit of the TTEG, but, perhaps 
more importantly, provide a mechanism for concrete and meaningful 
collaboration among the littoral States and user States and other 
interested parties with an interest in contributing to the 
maintenance of safety of navigation and marine environmental 
protection of the Straits. 
 
We particularly support the proposal to establish a "Project 
Co-ordinating Committee" under the TTEG to facilitate the 
implementation of projects.  This would be an essential forum for 
interested parties to work out the details of the projects and 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  007 OF 009 
 
 
modalities of support for their implementation.  Such a 
collaborative forum is essential to ensure that support for the 
projects is meaningful, technically correct, coordinated, 
interoperable, mutually reinforcing, sustainable and neither 
duplicative nor incompatible. 
 
We would encourage the Governments of the littoral States to 
establish the Project Co-ordinating Committee as soon as possible, 
so that it will be in place to facilitate realization of the 
projects to be discussed in our next session. 
 
END TEXT OF VADM WURSTER'S PRESENTATION FOR SESSION 8. 
 
¶4.  BEGIN TEXT OF VADM WURSTER'S INTERVENTION AT SESSION 9: 
 
IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF NEEDS OF PROJECTS ON SAFETY OF 
NAVIGATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
 
We appreciate very much the presentations of the six projects.  They 
are clearly suited to enhance the safety and environmental 
protection of the Straits. 
 
As you may know, the United States, acting through the various 
departments of our government, from time to time, conducts 
professional exchanges, training opportunities, exercises, 
assistance, and other engagements with the various and sovereign 
nations of the region.  Rather than enumerate these past events, I 
will address some of the projects that have been presented here in 
session 9. 
 
We all recognize that it is difficult at this time for countries to 
commit definitively to support one or more of these worthy projects, 
given the short time we have had to consider them in relation to the 
budget and program planning cycles in our countries. 
 
Nevertheless, the United States is interested in supporting portions 
of three of the projects. 
 
The United States Coast Guard has particular expertise that could be 
helpful both to the HNS project and to the project to replace aids 
to navigation damaged by the tsunami, and looks forward to working 
with other countries to bring those projects to fruition. 
 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a part 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce, also has expertise that could be 
brought to bear on two of the projects. 
 
The Hazardous Materials Response Division of NOAA's National Ocean 
Service's Office of Response and Restoration has particular 
expertise relevant to the HNS preparedness and response project. 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
In addition, NOAA has an interest in the project to set up a tide, 
current and wind measurement system for the Straits of Malacca and 
Singapore.  These instruments are not only vital tools to enhance 
the navigational safety and marine environment protection of the 
straits.  They also can provide important real time information for 
the Global Ocean Observation System, and for weather forecasting and 
climate prediction. 
 
We would be pleased if there were a mechanism in place to discuss 
these matters in greater detail with the project sponsors, so that 
we could then be in a position to determine how we could make 
definitive commitments. 
 
In that regard, let me reiterate our support for the proposed 
cooperative mechanism described to us in session 7.  We believe the 
"Project Co-ordinating Committee" would be an ideal forum for 
clarifying the details of the projects and the contributions that 
each party would be able to make.  We view this as particularly 
important to ensure that all assistance is compatible, mutually 
reinforcing and not redundant. 
 
One possibility in the near term would be for such a Project 
Co-ordinating Committee to meet in conjunction with the next meeting 
of the TTEG on Safety of Navigation. 
 
Indeed we could envision the Project Co-ordinating Committee meeting 
more than once in the next half year or so, with a view to having 
the projects begun being implemented in a year's time. 
 
END TEXT OF VADM WURSTER'S INTERVENTION AT SESSION 9. 
 
¶5.  BEGIN TEXT OF AMBASSADOR LAFLEUR'S CLOSING STATEMENT. 
 
On behalf of the U.S. delegation, I would like to congratulate the 
IMO for organizing this second important meeting on enhancing the 
safety, security and environmental protection of the Straits of 
Malacca and Singapore. 
 
I would also like to thank our host, the Government of Malaysia, for 
all its excellent preparations and efforts over the past three days. 
 You have made the meeting go smoothly and materially facilitated 
its very positive results. 
 
Earlier this meeting Vice Admiral Wurster conveyed U.S. views on the 
littoral and user States collaboration to enhance the safety and 
environmental protection of the Straits. 
 
I want to take this opportunity to underline our continued support 
for the cooperative efforts that Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001898  009 OF 009 
 
 
have taken over the past two years to enhance the safety, security 
and environmental protection of the Straits.  I am confident that 
these efforts, with the continued support of user States and other 
interested parties, will be redoubled in the coming year. 
 
The U.S. recognizes and respects the territorial integrity and 
sovereignty of the littoral States and accepts that, under the law 
of the sea and other international treaties, they have the 
responsibility for securing these vital sea lanes. 
 
We welcome the continued commitment of the IMO to promote 
collaborative efforts toward enhancing the safety, security and 
environmental protection of the Straits.  Under the leadership of 
Secretary-General Mitropolous, this meeting has made very 
 
SIPDIS 
significant progress in achieving these goals. 
 
It is important that we continue to build upon recent developments 
and sustain our momentum.  Recognizing the role and responsibility 
of the United States as a user State and a contributing nation, we 
encourage and support follow-on meetings of stakeholders to enhance 
the capability and capacity of the littoral States. 
 
At these future meetings, the user States can more clearly and 
definitively identify their assistance to meet the needs identified 
by the littoral States during this meeting. 
 
The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to assist the 
littoral States and other stakeholders to operationalize a 
successful cooperative framework for the Straits. 
 
Again, I want to thank and congratulate the IMO and our hosts, as 
well as all the delegates here, for your hard work and concrete 
progress. 
 
Together we will continue to advance our common goal to enhance 
safety, security and environmental protection in the Straits of 
Malacca and Singapore. 
 
END TEXT OF AMBASSADOR LAFLEUR'S CLOSING STATEMENT. 
 
SHEAR