US embassy cable - 05MANILA1700

UNCLAS MANILA 001700 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NP, T, L, WHA, AND EAP/PMBS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT, KNNP, MNUC, PARM, PHSA, PREL, RP 
SUBJECT: SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. NONPROLIFERATION 
AMENDMENTS TO THE SUA CONVENTION 
 
REF: STATE 64395 
 
1.  (U) Post on April 8 provided maritime and 
nonproliferation officials in the Department of Foreign 
Affairs' (DFA) Bureau of United Nations and International 
Organizations (UNIO) the non-paper (reftel) on the proposed 
amendments to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful 
Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA).  After 
studying the paper and considering our talking points, 
Director Gary Domingo told poloff April 13 that, while 
strongly supporting nonproliferation objectives, the GRP 
remains concerned about Article 8 and the issue of protection 
of ship owners and seafarers during maritime interdiction and 
search operations. 
 
2.  (SBU) According to Domingo, the DFA had found the U.S. 
non-paper to be "helpful," but the GRP had nonetheless not 
reached interagency consensus on the effort to amend the SUA 
Convention.  The Philippine Maritime Industry Authority, in 
particular, is "wary" about the boarding issue, he noted. 
Domingo observed that concerns about maritime interdiction 
had also affected the GRP's position on the Proliferation 
Security Initiative, which it has not yet endorsed.  Poloff 
separately learned that the Maritime Authority plans to send 
a representative to the April 18-22 London talks. 
 
3.  (SBU) COMMENT. Post will continue to argue the merits of 
the proposed amendments to the SUA Convention here, but 
recommends that the U.S. team also engage the Philippine 
representative on the issue during the upcoming discussions 
in London. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
Mussomeli