VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #9766 0811736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 211730Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0000
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0000

UNCLAS STATE 029766 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MNUC PARM PHSA PREL KNNP XL XM
SUBJECT: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT BY WESTERN HEMISPHERE 
COUNTRIES PRIOR TO MAY 2008 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 
 
REF: A. 07 STATE 071281 (NOTAL) 
     ¶B. 07 STATE 090345 (NOTAL) 
 
-------------------------- 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST 
-------------------------- 
 
¶1.  The U.S. is hosting two events in Washington on May 
28-29, 2008 on the occasion of the Fifth Anniversary of the 
establishment of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). 
 First announced by President Bush at Krakow, Poland, this 
initiative is one of the hallmarks of the Administration's 
efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass 
destructions.  A Senior-Level Meeting on the first day will 
take stock of the first five years of the PSI and discuss the 
way forward to further strengthen the Initiative.  This 
meeting will be open only to those countries that have 
endorsed the PSI.  The second day will be an outreach 
workshop with informational briefings for countries that have 
not endorsed the PSI, as well as those that have endorsed but 
may lack information on all the available participation 
opportunities. 
 
¶2.  In advance of these May events, Washington is seeking to 
increase the number of countries that endorse the PSI 
Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP) (text is available 
at www.state.gov/t/isn/c10390.htm) by conducting targeted 
outreach in key states and underrepresented regions, 
including Latin America.  A number of Latin American 
countries have shown an interest in the PSI, but for various 
reasons have not made a final decision to endorse. 
 
¶3.  WHA ACTION ADDRESSEES are requested to engage host 
governments again (See Refs A and B) about endorsing the PSI 
Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP) (BRIDGETOWN for 
all the countries under your purview).  Posts are requested 
to approach highest appropriate levels of host government and 
urge endorsement of the PSI SOP.  In particular, please 
inform host governments that they must endorse the PSI in 
order to participate in the Senior-Level Meeting on May 28, 
which will set the direction for the PSI in future years. 
Posts may draw from points in paragraph 6, which also may be 
left as a non-paper.  Posts should leave the letter from A/S 
Shannon in paragraph 7 and may leave the sample diplomatic 
note in paragraph 8 with host government. 
 
¶4.  EMBASSIES MADRID, OTTAWA, LISBON, and LONDON are 
requested to notify host governments of U.S. efforts to urge 
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, 
Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, 
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines, and Uruguay to participate in the PSI, and to 
pass copies of the non-paper in paragraph 6 for their 
information.  Washington will also discuss possible joint 
outreach efforts with the Washington-based representatives of 
these governments. 
 
------------------ 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------ 
 
¶5.  Please report delivery of cable and any immediate 
response by COB March 28, 2008. E-mail replies are 
acceptable, but we do need confirmation that host governments 
have received this approach.  Please also continue to report 
reactions as received. 
 
------------------- 
BACKGROUND/NONPAPER 
------------------- 
 
¶6. Begin points: 
 
-- May 2008 marks the Fifth Anniversary of the Proliferation 
Security Initiative (PSI). 
 
-- In the five years since its inception, over 85 countries 
from every region of the world have endorsed the PSI 
Statement of Interdiction Principles. 
 
-- As a result, the PSI has become the hallmark of strong 
nonproliferation credentials. 
 
-- To date, the PSI partners have conducted over 30 
operational interdiction training exercises (air, maritime, 
and ground) involving more than 70 nations. These exercises 
are a key element of the PSI in increasing the 
interoperability of PSI participants, improving interdiction 
decision-making processes and procedures, and enhancing the 
interdiction capacities of all participating states. The PSI 
partner states continue to work together by sharing 
information, conducting exercises, and carrying out 
interdictions that improve our ability and readiness to 
disrupt and counter proliferation activities. 
 
-- We would welcome your Government's participation in the 
PSI. By endorsing the PSI Statement of Interdiction, your 
government will undertake a political commitment to stop WMD 
trafficking within the constraints of your national 
capabilities and legal authorities. Other regional neighbors 
who participate in the PSI include Chile, Argentina, 
Paraguay, Panama, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. 
 
-- The United States is hosting a meeting of senior policy 
makers from all PSI endorsing states in Washington on May 28 
to mark the PSI's Fifth Anniversary. The participants will 
review the PSI's results so far and exchange ideas for 
strengthening it further for the future.  Your government's 
endorsement of the PSI before then would enable it to 
participate in this meeting. 
 
-- We will also host a PSI outreach workshop the following 
day in the same location.  The workshop will include 
informational briefings on the broad range of available PSI 
participation opportunities.  This outreach workshop on May 
29 will be open to all countries to attend.  Your government 
may wish to send representatives from your capital to this 
event, although representatives from your embassy in 
Washington would also be welcome.  The invitation and 
logistical information for this PSI workshop will be provided 
in the near future. 
 
-- We urge your government to endorse the PSI Statement of 
Interdiction through a diplomatic note to the United States 
or another PSI partner state prior to the Fifth Anniversary 
Meeting. 
 
-- Participation in the PSI is also a signal that a state 
takes its UN Security Council obligations seriously, 
including those under UNSCR 1540.  This resolution identified 
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as a 
threat to international peace and security.  It also 
identified cooperative efforts as one way in which states 
could cooperate to counter WMD and missile proliferation. 
 
-- PSI participants have quietly cooperated to stop shipments 
of technology related to weapons of mass destruction and 
their delivery means. 
 
-- These actions have been taken voluntarily and in all cases 
fully consistent with national legal authorities and relevant 
international law and frameworks. 
 
-- The PSI does not in any way conflict with international 
law.  To the contrary, the PSI Statement of Interdiction 
Principles, which participating states endorse to become PSI 
participants, explicitly states that participants commit to 
interdiction principles "consistent with national legal 
authorities and relevant international law and frameworks, 
including the UN Security Council." 
 
-- Participation in any PSI activity is voluntary.  If a 
state believes it does not have the legal authorities or 
capability to act in a specific case, it may decline to 
participate. 
 
-- The Statement of Interdiction Principles does not entail 
any legal or operational obligations. Nonetheless, 
endorsement of the Statement of Principles provides a clear 
indication of a country's strong nonproliferation 
credentials, and also acts as a strong deterrent to 
proliferators seeking to abuse states' sovereign territory by 
trafficking WMD and missile-related materials and items. 
 
------------------------------- 
LETTER FROM ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  Begin text of PSI letter from A/S Shannon: 
 
(Insert appropriate salutation) 
 
May 2008 marks the Fifth Anniversary of President Bush's 
announcement of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) 
in Krakow, Poland.  On this occasion, the United States is 
hosting the PSI Fifth Anniversary Conference May 28-29, 2008, 
in Washington, D.C.  I write to you to encourage your 
government to endorse the PSI Statement of Interdiction 
Principles prior to the Fifth Anniversary Conference. 
 
A Senior-Level Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 28, for 
all PSI endorsing governments.  The focus of this meeting 
will be to review the Initiative's results and successes over 
the last five years and look at ways to continue 
strengthening the PSI for the future.  By first endorsing the 
PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles, your government 
would then be able to participate in this meeting. 
 
On Thursday, May 29, the workshop will be open to both PSI 
endorsing states and states considering endorsement.  It will 
provide detailed information on the broad range of PSI 
activities and share best practices and tools that have been 
developed to assist countries with implementing their 
commitment to the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles. 
We encourage participation in this workshop by experts in the 
defense, legal, law enforcement and customs, operational and 
intelligence communities. 
 
Greater participation by Latin American states in the PSI 
will strengthen the region's security against trafficking in 
weapons of mass destruction.  The capacity-building exercises 
and other cooperation conducted by the PSI nations also 
provide secondary benefits in improving capabilities against 
all illegal trafficking and transshipments.  I urge your 
government to seriously consider endorsing the PSI, and if 
you decide to do so, provide a diplomatic note to that effect. 
 
I look forward to your government's positive response and 
your participation in the PSI Fifth Anniversary events. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Thomas A. Shannon 
Assistant Secretary of State for 
Western Hemisphere Affairs 
 
---------------------- 
 
SAMPLE DIPLOMATIC NOTE 
---------------------- 
 
¶8.  Begin text of sample diplomatic note endorsing the PSI: 
 
The Government of (country) welcomes and fully supports the 
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and the 4 September 
2003 Statement of Interdiction Principles (SOP). 
 
This endorsement reflects (country's) willingness to 
cooperate in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction (WMD), their means of delivery and related 
materials.  (Country) is committed to upholding the PSI SOP 
and looks forward to participating, to the extent possible, 
in future PSI-related activities. 
 
(Additional language on your government's commitment to 
non-proliferation and particular efforts your government 
would like to undertake, etc., may be inserted as desired.) 
 
End Sample Diplomatic Note. 
 
---------------- 
POINT OF CONTACT 
---------------- 
 
¶9.  Washington points of contact for follow-up information 
are Carlos Guzman, ISN/CPI, and Jane Purcell, ISN/CPI. 
Please slug all responses for ISN, T, and WHA. Washington 
greatly appreciates Posts' assistance. 
RICE