VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7739 2002124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 182120Z JUL 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0066

UNCLAS STATE 077739 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP MNUC FR
SUBJECT: ISN LETTER OF THANKS FOR PSI PRESENTATION 
 
REF: STATE 023570 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:  On May 29, 2008, the United 
States hosted a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) 
Outreach Workshop in Washington, attended by representatives 
of 21 countries that have not yet endorsed the PSI, as well 
as most of the 92 PSI participating states.  The workshop 
provided detailed information on the broad range of PSI 
activities and tools that have been developed for training, 
organizing for, and conducting interdictions of shipments of 
proliferation concern.  BG Jean-Marc Laurent, Deputy to the 
Director for Strategic Affairs, French Ministry of Defense, 
gave the opening presentation on the Principles of PSI (copy 
can be forwarded upon request). 
 
¶2.  ACTION REQUESTED:  Embassy is requested to deliver under 
appropriate cover the following letter from Acting Assistant 
Secretary Patricia McNerney to BG Laurent, thanking him for 
his presentation.  There will be no signed original. 
 
¶3.  Begin text of letter: 
 
Dear General Laurent: 
 
I would like to thank you for giving the presentation on "PSI 
Principles" at the May 29, 2008 Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI) Outreach Workshop in Washington, DC.  Your 
opening presentation made an important contribution to the 
Workshop by introducing the fundamental principles of the PSI 
to non-PSI countries. 
 
I believe the Outreach Workshop was very successful both 
because it informed states of the many ongoing PSI activities 
and because it provided states with concrete ways to improve 
their capabilities to stop WMD-related trafficking.  The 
United States greatly appreciates the significant role that 
France plays in advancing the PSI's goals, including in 
outreach.  We believe that we must continue PSI outreach, 
both to encourage more states to endorse the PSI and 
encourage states that have already endorsed to participate 
more actively.  We look forward to continuing our work 
together in support of the PSI. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Patricia A. McNerney 
Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security and 
Nonproliferation, 
Department of State 
 
End text of letter. 
 
¶4.  POINTS OF CONTACT:  Washington points of contact on the 
PSI are Jane Purcell, e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov, 
202-647-6186; and Carlos Guzman, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov, 
202-647-6320.  Department appreciates Post's assistance. 
RICE