Cablegate: Isn Letter of Thanks for Psi Presentation

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7739 2002124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 182120Z JUL 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0066

UNCLAS STATE 077739

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP MNUC FR
SUBJECT: ISN LETTER OF THANKS FOR PSI PRESENTATION

REF: STATE 023570

1. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: On May 29, 2008, the United
States hosted a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
Outreach Workshop in Washington, attended by representatives
of 21 countries that have not yet endorsed the PSI, as well
as most of the 92 PSI participating states. The workshop
provided detailed information on the broad range of PSI
activities and tools that have been developed for training,
organizing for, and conducting interdictions of shipments of
proliferation concern. BG Jean-Marc Laurent, Deputy to the
Director for Strategic Affairs, French Ministry of Defense,
gave the opening presentation on the Principles of PSI (copy
can be forwarded upon request).

2. ACTION REQUESTED: Embassy is requested to deliver under
appropriate cover the following letter from Acting Assistant
Secretary Patricia McNerney to BG Laurent, thanking him for
his presentation. There will be no signed original.

3. Begin text of letter:

Dear General Laurent:

I would like to thank you for giving the presentation on "PSI
Principles" at the May 29, 2008 Proliferation Security
Initiative (PSI) Outreach Workshop in Washington, DC. Your
opening presentation made an important contribution to the
Workshop by introducing the fundamental principles of the PSI
to non-PSI countries.

I believe the Outreach Workshop was very successful both
because it informed states of the many ongoing PSI activities
and because it provided states with concrete ways to improve
their capabilities to stop WMD-related trafficking. The
United States greatly appreciates the significant role that
France plays in advancing the PSI's goals, including in
outreach. We believe that we must continue PSI outreach,
both to encourage more states to endorse the PSI and
encourage states that have already endorsed to participate
more actively. We look forward to continuing our work
together in support of the PSI.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. McNerney
Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security and
Nonproliferation,
Department of State

End text of letter.

4. POINTS OF CONTACT: Washington points of contact on the
PSI are Jane Purcell, e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov,
202-647-6186; and Carlos Guzman, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov,
202-647-6320. Department appreciates Post's assistance.
RICE

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