VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1109/01 3431758
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091758Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7779
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0019
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0002

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001109 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER UNGA UNSC PREL
SUBJECT: CHAIRMEN OF 1267 (AL-QAIDA/TALIBAN) SANCTIONS 
COMMITTEE, 1373 COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE, AND 1540 
COMMITTEE (NONPROLIFERATION) BRIEF SECURITY COUNCIL 
 
REF: SECSTATE 117021 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  The Chairs of the 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban) 
Sanctions Committee, the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee 
(CTC), and the 1540 (Nonproliferation) Committee jointly 
briefed the UN Security Council on November 13.  The Chair of 
the CTC issued a joint statement emphasizing the need for 
coordination between the Committees, and the Chairs described 
the work of their Committees over the last six months and 
future plans.  Following the briefing all Council members, as 
well as Switzerland, Sweden, Cuba, Liechtenstein, New 
Zealand, Brazil, Spain, Venezuela, the Netherlands, 
Australia, Iran, Syria, India and Colombia, made statements. 
Ambassador Wolff delivered the U.S. statement drawing on 
points included in reftel.  Cuba complained, as it has 
regularly, that the United States is harboring a known 
terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles.  Cuba also complained that 
the United States did very little to hold Santiago Alvarez 
accountable for his criminal acts in support of Posada. 
Venezuela and Colombia gave contentious interventions 
regarding counter-terrorism measures in Colombia and the 
recent Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) concluded between 
Colombia and the United States.  USUN POL MinCouns responded 
to Venezuelan accusations against the U.S. regarding the DCA 
drawn from reftel, as summarized below in paragraph 6. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
1267 Committee 
-------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  Austrian Permrep and Chairman of the 1267 Committee, 
Thomas Mayr-Harting, noted that the review process is a key 
focus of the Committee.  Mayr-Harting stated that so far the 
Committee has initiated the UNSCR 1822 review of 422 names 
and indicated that the last 66 names will be sent to 
reviewing States shortly.  In addition, the Committee has 
discussed 71 entities, of which 50 were confirmed to remain 
on the list, 8 were de-listed, and review is still pending on 
13 because of the need for additional information.  With 
regard to narrative summaries of reasons for listing, the 
Committee has approved 164 for publication and 294 additional 
drafts are being reviewed.  Mayr-Harting also noted that 
there are currently 30 court cases pending around the world 
related to resolution 1267.  The Monitoring Team's 10th 
report was submitted to the Committee at the end of July and 
the Committee will submit its recommendations in due time. 
Delegations generally lauded the usefulness of the 
instrument, but indicated concerns regarding the credibility 
of the 1627 Consolidated List.  Several States, including 
Spain, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Netherlands, asked 
the Council to increase transparency and ensure that the 
listing and de-listing processes were sufficiently fair and 
clear.  These States noted with concern the increasing amount 
of domestic 1267-related litigation that has arisen in the 
last few years, particularly in European Courts.  In 
addition, Iran and Syria indicated apprehension regarding the 
perceived selectivity of the Committee in focusing on certain 
regions while ignoring others.  Most States urged the Council 
to use the 1267 renewal resolution as an opportunity to 
address some fairness concerns in the listing and delisting 
processes as a means of ensuring that the regime remains an 
effective counterterrorism tool. 
 
1373 Committee 
-------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  Ranko Vilovic, Croatian Permrep and Chairman of the 
1373 Committee, reported that the Committee has finalized the 
analysis and adoption of the preliminary implementation 
assessments (PIAs) of all UN Member States except one, whose 
PIA is expected to be adopted soon.  Emphasizing that the 
stocktaking process is carried out in stages, Vilovic noted 
that the Committee has already finalized 46 files (with 
completion in 2010) and that CTED's annual survey of 
implementation is before the Committee and should be 
submitted to the Council by the end of 2009.  Vilovic noted 
the increase in focused, on-site visits by CTED, as well as 
enhanced cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Action Group 
(CTAG), continued support for the Counter-Terrorism 
Implementation Task Force (CTITF) and engagement with the 
other Committees.  Speakers generally commended the work of 
the CTC and CTED, including their increased cooperation with 
CTAG and the CTITF, and praised the Committee's progress on 
PIAs.  Several States, including Sweden (on behalf of the 
European Union), Mexico, and Costa Rica, mentioned the need 
to keep in mind human rights norms during the Committee's 
work, though Vietnam emphasized that these concerns should be 
considered in the context of counterterrorism. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1540 Committee 
-------------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  Costa Rican Permrep and Chairman of the Committee 
established pursuant to resolution 1540, Jorge Urbina, 
recalled the three-day open meeting and interactive sessions 
held by the Committee from 30 September - 2 October 2009 as 
part of its Comprehensive Review.   In the last six months 
1540 Committee representatives have participated in 20 
workshops and meetings outside UN Headquarters.  In addition, 
the Committee has continued its engagement in: 1540-specific 
regional workshops organized by the UN Office for Disarmament 
Affairs (UNODA), regional workshops organized in 
collaboration with other UN bodies,  regional workshops 
organized by Member States in cooperation with the 1540 
Committee, meetings organized by other organizations or by 
Member States, and country-specific activities.  Urbina also 
noted that in response to resolution 1810 the Committee is 
intensifying efforts to develop its clearing-house function 
for channeling assistance to Member States, as well as 
continuing cooperation with the other Security Council 
Committees and related organizations.  States expressed 
support for the Committee's Comprehensive Review and 
generally encouraged continued open debate and coordination 
with the other Committees.  The French, UK and the Russian 
Federation also called for an increased focus on assisting 
States, when necessary, in implementing their obligations 
under resolution 1540, and for increased transparency and 
efficiency in providing such assistance. 
 
 
Cuba & Venezuela Interventions 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (U)  Cuba noted that while it has submitted detailed 
information to the committee on terrorist acts against Cuba 
and the protection of certain culprits by the United States, 
it has not resulted in action.  In particular, Cuba pointed 
out the cases of Santiago Alvarez and Luis Posada Carriles. 
After expounding on Posada's history and present 
circumstances, Cuba demanded that the United States extradite 
Posada or prosecute him for terrorist acts, not just 
immigration offences.  Venezuela took up the Cuban line on 
Posada, again emphasizing the American role in his history 
and noting the lack of action on a Venezuelan extradition 
request.  Venezuela claimed that U.S. actions amounted to a 
violation of resolution 1373.  With regard to Alvarez, Cuba 
alleged that he had been caught with grenades, C-4 explosives 
and detonation cords to be used in terrorist acts against 
Cuba, but that the United States had decided not to press 
terrorism charges and Alvarez served only 11 months of a 
4-year prison term. 
 
 
Colombia & Venezuela Exchanges on DCA; U.S. Response 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶6.  (U)  Columbia emphasized the value of international 
support - especially U.S. support -- in Columbia's efforts to 
fight domestic terrorism, particularly the FARC and ELN. 
Colombia linked this to the DCA and challenged Venezuela's 
mischaracterizations of the parameters of the DCA.  Further, 
Colombia noted Venezuela's unwillingness to cooperate with 
Colombia on combating criminal groups, citing several 
examples.  Venezuela made a further statement in which it 
emphasized the effect Colombia's internal conflict has on 
neighboring countries and called on Colombia to end its 
expansionist policies, referencing in particular the DCA with 
the U.S.  In response, the U.S. representative delivered the 
DCA points in reftel as well as late-breaking WHA points 
welcoming Venezuela's interest in international cooperation 
against terrorism, noting that a desire to ensure 
high-quality dialogue with Venezuela on such areas of mutual 
interest was one of the reasons the United States 
re-established relations at the ambassadorial level in July, 
and stating the hope that Venezuela's interest in the topic 
will encourage meaningful dialogue, though Venezuela has not 
yet taken advantage of the opportunity. 
RICE