US embassy cable - 05PARIS4977

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004977 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NP/CBM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10 YEARS 
TAGS: ETTC, FR, KS, KSCA, MNUC, PARM, PREL, TSPA, MTCRE, Non-Proliferation 
SUBJECT: MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME:  06 JULY 
MEETING OF MTCR POINTS OF CONTACT IN PARIS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 121901 
 
Classified By: EST Counselor Robert W. Dry for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  On 6 July 2005, Embassy EST officer 
attended a meeting of the Missile Technology Control Regime 
(MTCR) Points of Contacts (POCS) held at the Korean Embassy 
in Paris.  This meeting focused on preparations for the 
September MTCR Plenary in Madrid. 
 
2.  (C)  Summary, Continued:  The meeting commenced with an 
update from the Korean MTCR representative in Paris, Hye-ran 
Yoo, on the most recent outreach activities conducted by the 
Korean MTCR Chair, then moved to discussions on both 
logistical and substantive matters concerning the proposed 
Plenary agenda.  In regard to logistical issues, the Spanish 
Ambassador in Paris made a specific proposal, at the behest 
of the Korean Chair, to move the Chair's statement from 14 
September to the morning of 12 September in order to allow 
for the Chair to make his remarks prior to leaving Madrid for 
meetings at the United Nations in New York.  Partners were 
given until 15 July to comment formally on the proposed 
changes to the agenda.  Embassy EST officer made 
interventions on basis of reftel points and requested 
clarification on the proposed changes to the agenda and more 
generally on the substance and timing of the Plenary 
meetings, especially concerning the Information Exchange (IE) 
portion.  French POC also made an appeal to partners for 
volunteers to assume the MTCR Chairmanship following 
completion of Spain's upcoming tenure as Chair.  End Summary. 
 
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MTCR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES 
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3.  (C)  The Korean POC briefed the partners on the recent 
outreach visits made by the Korean Chair to Pakistan on 31 
May, and the visit by his deputy, Song Young Wan, to the 
United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 7-8 June.  The Korean POC 
remarked that the MTCR Chair had a mixed impression of his 
visit to Pakistan.  Pakistani officials had expressed to the 
Chair their concerns that Pakistani national security issues 
were not sufficiently taken into account by the MTCR, and 
asked the Chair for more consideration of the country's 
unique security threats.  According to the Korean POC, the 
Chair characterized his overall engagement with Pakistani 
officials, however, as relatively positive.  The Korean POC 
also provided a readout of the 7-8 June visit by the Chair's 
deputy to the UAE.  The Korean POC described the visit as 
successful and encouraging, and said that deputy Chair Song 
had been impressed by the UAE officials' commitment to the 
MTCR mission, especially as it pertained to the issue of 
transshipments through Dubai.  The Korean POC noted the 
Chair's strong recommendation, however, that the incoming 
Spanish Chair continue to closely engage UAE officials during 
his tenure. 
 
4.  (C)  French POC Bertolotti, who had accompanied the 
Chair's deputy to the UAE, also commented regarding his 
impressions of the UAE visit.  Bertolotti stressed the 
competency and motivation in terms of support to MTCR goals 
displayed by the UAE port authorities, police and customs 
officials in Dubai.  Bertolotti further noted the UAE had 
recently constituted a Counter-Proliferation Task Force 
made-up of port authorities, customs, and police, and other 
national security agencies, signifying another example of the 
seriousness in which the UAE government views the 
proliferation problem.  Bertolotti added that while the UAE 
did not have specific export control legislation in place, 
the police and security services had authority to counter 
proliferation activities in the UAE. 
 
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PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PLENARY SCHEDULE 
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5.  (C)  The Spanish Ambassador in Paris commented regarding 
the upcoming Plenary in Madrid.  He asked MTCR partners to 
consider a request made to him by the Korean Chair to move 
the Chair's comments and the heads of delegation opening 
statements from 14 September to 12 September in order to 
accommodate the need for the outgoing Chair to make his 
formal remarks before traveling to New York for U.N. 
meetings.  After several requests for clarification of the 
proposed changes, MTCR partners agreed in principle to the 
proposal, but decided to allow for consultations with their 
respective capitals, with formal answers to be sent to the 
French POC by 15 July. 
 
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FRENCH POC AND PARTNER COMMENTS ON INFORMATION 
EXCHANGE/TECHNICAL EXPERTS MEETING/ENFORCEMENT EXPERTS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
6.  (C)  Following the discussion on the Plenary agenda, the 
French POC provided an outline for the Information Exchange 
to take place in Madrid.  Bertolotti requested that partners 
circulate their IE papers, with executive summaries for each, 
well in advance of the Plenary.  Bertolotti also informed 
partners that the IE Chairman planned to give a presentation 
prior to the commencement of Plenary agenda item 4 entitled 
'Regional Missile Non-Proliferation.'  The French POC noted 
that France planned to circulate a paper on DPRK 
proliferation activities, with a focus on shipping.  The 
Japanese POC then remarked that Japan will submit a report on 
"Missile Developments in Northeast Asia."  The Spanish POC 
noted that his country was preparing a paper on Syrian 
proliferation activities.   The German POC asked partners to 
submit reactions/comments to the German paper on the role of 
ITT in proliferation activities, previously submitted as MTCR 
POC document 45.  In regard to the Technical Experts Meeting 
(TEM), French POC informed partners that the TEM Chairman 
would send TEM proposals to him by 15 July.  Bertolotti also 
outlined the agenda for the meeting of the Enforcement 
Experts (EE) during the Plenary.  The major themes of the EE 
portion of the Plenary would be as follows:  national 
experiences and priorities, enforcement issues relating to 
non-tangible technologies, enforcement of transfers and 
transshipments, and a special focus on China's export control 
enforcement, both its strengths and shortcomings. 
 
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UPDATE ON ELECTRONIC POINT OF CONTACT (EPOC) 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C)  As a final item, French POC updated partners on the 
results to date of the test phase of the MTCR Electronic 
Point of Contact system (EPOC).  Bertolotti noted that test 
users had expressed satisfaction with the EPOC thus far.  He 
then asked partners from the test group if they felt 
sufficiently comfortable with the system that they would now 
be prepared to move to the "no-paper" test phase.  Test users 
agreed to move to a no-paper system.  French POC remarked 
that he would like to extend the test group by four 
additional countries, and asked partners to inform him in the 
coming days if they would like to join the EPOC test phase. 
French POC noted that the goal was to have full MTCR partner 
participation in the EPOC prior to the Reinforced POC meeting 
in 2006. 
 
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RUSSIAN NO-SHOW 
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8.  (C)  As the Russian POC was absent at the 06 July POC 
meeting, no Russian views were presented. 
STAPLETON