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PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT
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DE RUEHC #5122/01 0992030
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FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0765
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 035122 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT PHSA PREL SENV SOCI OAS
SUBJECT: ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENT AND CARGO SECURITY 
DEVELOPMENTS AT OAS PORTS MEETING 
 
REF: PANAMA 644 
 
 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Top-level port officials met in Buenos 
Aires, March 23-27, for the Tenth Executive Board Meeting 
of the Organization of American States' Inter-American 
Committee on Ports (CIP). The Maritime Administration led 
the U.S. delegation, which included USOAS and Coast Guard 
officials. The annual board meeting dealt with the issues 
noted below. 
-------------------------------------------- 
ECONOMIC CRISIS PERVADES MEETING DISCUSSIONS 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶2.    (U) With over 90 percent of world trade 
transported via international shipping, the impact of the 
economic crisis and the associated decrease in commerce 
drew major attention in the presentations and discussions. 
Recommendations for overcoming challenges included 
increasing competitiveness of the port sector by 
simplifying and streamlining port administrative affairs, 
improving connections between ports and other 
transportation infrastructure such as trucks and railways, 
differentiating among client bases, and simplifying 
contracts and rates. 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
- 
DRAFT DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL PORT PROTECTION MOVES 
FORWARD DESPITE VENEZUELAN EFFORTS 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
- 
¶3.    (U) On the margins of the plenary meetings, the 
U.S. worked with other delegations to conclude the draft 
Declaration on Environmental Port Protection, which 
Venezuela had held up since April 2007 (REFTEL PANAMA 
644). The Panamanian Chair sought to appease Venezuela by 
adopting their language. The U.S. succeeded in convincing 
all delegations to return to the original language 
negotiated by environmental policy port experts, allowing 
for consensus on the final document. 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
COMMITTEE IDENTIFIES FUTURE AREAS FOR COOPERATION 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶4.    (U) Twenty-three resolutions passed during the 
week-long meeting. Several called for strengthening of 
cooperation and exchange with Spain, already actively 
involved with CIP. Another resolution calls for the first 
hemispheric conference on port logistics and 
competitiveness to occur with the support of the Port of 
Le Havre/Soget S.A. of France. 
¶5.    (U) The latest draft Memorandum of Understanding 
between the International Maritime Organization and the 
General Secretariat of the OAS calls for coordination 
particularly in the areas of maritime safety, port 
security, and the environment. It also proposes 
collaboration with other international organizations, such 
as the Inter-American Development Bank. 
¶6.     (U) At the invitation of the Subcommittee on 
Port Security, the Pan American Health Organization made a 
presentation on the new International Health Regulations 
of 2005, which call for strengthened capacity in 
surveillance and control of public health emergencies, 
including ports. The presentation opened up a new area for 
potential collaboration with PAHO and CIP. There appears 
considerable interest in this topic among Caribbean 
countries, whose economies remain highly dependent on the 
cruise vessel tourist trade. 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
CARIBBEAN NATIONS EXPRESS CONCERNS OVER PORT TRAINING AND 
COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. MARITIME CARGO SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
¶7.    (U) Caribbean nations reiterated the 
long-standing issue of CIP training, frequently conducted 
in Spanish and influenced by OAS Permanent Observer Spain, 
and discourages participation by English-speaking port 
authorities. 
¶8.    (U) In response to the U.S. presentation on the 
2007 Safe Port Act, which requires 100 percent scanning of 
all U.S.-bound maritime cargo by 2012, small-island 
nations expressed great concern over the enormous costs 
required for compliance. Mexico also put forth a 
resolution calling for the U.S. to provide a technical 
presentation on the U.S. regulatory framework on cargo and 
passengers. 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
ALLIANCE CALLS FOR IMPROVED CIP ORGANIZATION AND 
COMMUNICATION 
 
STATE 00035122  002 OF 002 
 
 
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¶9.    (U) The U.S., Brazil, Chile, and Canada 
submitted a resolution for the Subcommittee on Policy and 
Coordination to make recommendations to improve the 
operational aspects of the Subcommittees and Technical 
Advisory Groups and to present on this topic at the next 
CIP Meeting. 
10.(U) The U.S., Brazil, Chile, and Canada submitted a 
"Report on the Focus and Organizational Aspects of 
Subcommittee and Technical Advisory Group (TAGS) Meetings" 
for the consideration of member states. The report calls 
for improved coordination with other multilateral 
organizations and the elimination of redundancy between 
Subcommittees and Technical Advisory Groups. In addition, 
the report calls for improved dissemination of 
information, communication, and changes to the current 
meeting structures. 
CLINTON