VZCZCXYZ0010
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #3976 0442220
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 132205Z FEB 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 0000
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 013976 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL CE UNSC KPAO PTER
SUBJECT: SOUTH ASIA WORKSHOP ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 
1540 
 
REF: 08 STATE 110381 
 
¶1. This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 6. 
 
¶2. SUMMARY: Washington is interested in obtaining Sri 
Lanka,s agreement to host a regional workshop on 
implementation of UNSCR 1540 in June 2009.  This workshop is 
consistent with implementation of UNSCRs 1540 and 1810.  This 
cable provides U.S. views for Sri Lanka and establishes 
direct coordination between Washington and Colombo to 
organize the workshop on or about June 23-25, 2009 in 
Colombo.  See para 4 for info to USUN.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. BACKGROUND: Washington supports the work of the UN 1540 
Committee to ensure states develop a realistic national 
action plan to address the gaps identified in 1540 
implementation and demonstrate the political will to 
implement this action plan.  These steps will ensure that 
UNSCR 1540 implementation becomes a key component of 
international efforts to prevent terrorists and other actors 
from obtaining WMD.  Washington believes this workshop will 
ensure that the South Asia countries understand the strong 
requirement for national implementation, since the 1540 
Committee, in and of itself, has limited capacity to provide 
the regional follow up that the report of the Committee calls 
for to buttress worldwide efforts.  END BACKGROUND. 
 
¶4. Note to USUN.  This workshop is proposed to be hosted by 
the Government of Sri Lanka using voluntary funding 
contributions from the United States (ISN,s EXBS Program) 
and will be conducted in cooperation with the UN 1540 
Committee and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (see 
REFTEL).  As such, this workshop is being provided to the UN 
1540 Committee as an in-kind U.S. contribution.  The ISN 
Bureau and its contractor Sandia National Laboratories are 
working closely with the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs and 
the UN 1540 Committee on the formulation of the agenda, the 
selection of speakers, and the logistics of this workshop, 
and will work closely with host country officials in Sri 
Lanka as well. 
 
¶5. The Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) 
program, managed by the State Department,s ISN Bureau, is 
providing funding for this workshop to be conducted with 
logistical support through a contract with Sandia National 
Laboratories.  The Department of Energy,s Megaports 
Initiative will work to provide, in conjunction with the Sri 
Lankan government, a port tour that includes the Megaports 
facility.  The logistical support to be coordinated by Sandia 
National Laboratories includes, but is not limited to: making 
arrangements for a workshop venue; coffee breaks and working 
lunches; simultaneous translation services, if needed; 
arranging for speakers and presenters; and covering travel 
costs for 10-12 speakers and for the travel costs of 24 
participants (3 from each country invited).  EXBS funds 
cannot be transmitted directly to the Sri Lankan government 
for expenditure. 
 
¶6. ACTION REQUEST.  Embassy Colombo is requested to share the 
proposal for the workshop, including the logistical 
arrangements, with Sri Lanka MFA and to confirm Sri Lanka,s 
commitment to host this 1540 implementation workshop. Embassy 
should report back to Washington NLT 24 February 2009 on Sri 
Lanka,s response to our request to host this workshop. 
 
The workshop details include: 
 
-- Proposed Date:  June 23-25, 2009 
 
-- Proposed venue:  Hilton Colombo 
 
-- Proposed country invitees:  SAARC Member States -- 
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, 
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 
 
-- POCs:  The State Department points of contact are 1540 
Coordinator Thomas Wuchte (WuchteTA@state.gov, 202-736-4275) 
and EXBS Program Manager Dan Forbes (ForbesRD@state.gov, 
202-647-0517). 
 
(Note:  Post should inform Sri Lanka MFA that POCs will 
e-mail a draft invitation letter example and a draft agenda. 
All logistical support for this workshop will be provided by 
the State Department and its contractor Sandia National 
Laboratories in cooperation with the UN 1540 Committee and 
the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.  As host country, Sri 
Lanka may be invited to address the workshop, host a 
conference dinner/reception, and host a tour of the Megaports 
facility at the Port of Colombo.  DOE/SLD will provide 
transportation between the hotel and the Port of Colombo.) 
 
-- Workshop Background:  We hope the primary focus of the 
workshop will be on furthering UNSCR 1540 implementation 
through identifying how South Asia states can develop their 
own national implementation plans.  The workshop will focus 
attention on the need for nations to prepare national 
implementation plans as suggested in the Report of the 
Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (25 April 
2006), which includes the following recommendation in 
paragraph 136: &States should be encouraged to provide 
additional information on national implementation as an 
ongoing process, including for instance, a road map or an 
action plan for addressing remaining measures to be taken to 
fully implement the resolution, taking into account the 
analysis provided by the Committee.8 
 
¶7. Washington greatly appreciates Embassy assistance in 
supporting this important workshop on UNSCR 1540 
implementation.  Please address further inquiries on this 
initiative to the workshop POCs:  ISN 1540 Coordinator Thomas 
Wuchte (WuchteTA@state.gov, 202-736-4275) and EXBS Program 
Manager Dan Forbes (ForbesRD@state.gov, 202-647-0517). 
CLINTON