Cablegate: Preparations for Africa Regional Unscr 1540 Workshop On

VZCZCXRO4111
RR RUEHBZ RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNR #2521/01 3571408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 212009Z DEC 09 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0001
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0001
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0001
RUEHBZ/AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 0001
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0001
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 0016
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0017
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0001
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0001
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0001
RUEHOR/AMEMBASSY GABORONE 0001
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0001
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0006
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0001
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0001
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0001
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DTRA CT WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NAIROBI 002521

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - REMOVED ZEN MARKINGS

SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF, S/CT, ISN/CPI ??? WUCHTE, NEA/ELA, NEA/MAG
ALGIERS FOR WAZIR
BAMAKO FOR NOYES
BRAZZAVILLE FOR CRAM
CAIRO FOR GAYLE
DAKAR FOR LOGAN
DAR ES SALAAM FOR HUTCHISON
DHS FOR CBP OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
CBP/INA FOR JEFFERS
DTRA FOR DUKLIS
GENEVA FOR BWC
JOINT STAFF FOR USAFRICOM
KAMPALA FOR OLSON
OUGADOUGOU FOR GOURDE
RABAT FOR NAIR
TUNIS FOR MCCARY
YAOUNDE FOR TRICKNOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KPAO PREL PTER UNSC XA KE
SUBJECT: PREPARATIONS FOR AFRICA REGIONAL UNSCR 1540 WORKSHOP ON
BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY

REF: STATE 96413

1. This is an action message. Please see paras. 14 and 15.

2. Summary: Officials from the Department of State's Bureau of
International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) and Sandia
National Laboratories (SNL) visited Nairobi November 16-19 to
perform a site survey in preparation for the Africa Regional
Workshop on Biosafety and Biosecurity. Embassy officers and
visitors ensured GoK buy-in, identified Kenyan participants,
reviewed entry requirements for non-Kenyan participants, inspected
proposed workshop venues, ensured suitability of proposed
microbiology laboratories, and discussed logistical arrangements.
The Director of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) Global Disease Detection Laboratory offered to assist
workshop organizers in identifying potential workshop participants
from across Africa. Embassy recommends all laboratories described
below for workshop tours. End Summary.

------------
INTRODUCTION
------------

3. In 2004 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution
1540, obliging all Member States to develop and enforce measures
against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD),
including biological weapons. The United States views
implementation of UNSCR 1540 as a vital element in our efforts to
keep WMD out of the hands of terrorists. The United States
supports implementation effort worldwide through a variety of
mechanisms, including relevant workshops and outreach. Embassy
Nairobi is pleased to support the Kenyan Government (GoK) as it
hosts the next UNSCR-1540 workshop, to be held in Nairobi February
2-4, 2010 (reftel).

----------
BACKGROUND
----------
4. The workshop's objective is to promote capacity-building to
advance implementation of measures to prevent the proliferation of
biological weapons-related materials to non-state actors. The
workshop is to be hosted by the Government of Kenya with support
and funding from the United States and in cooperation with the
Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 1540 and the UN Office for
Disarmament Affairs. The workshop will be tailored to help FULFILL
the unique challenges of African states as they work to meet their
obligations under UNSCR 1540 in the biological area. Participants
will focus on mitigation of the bioterrorism threat, pathogen

NAIROBI 00002521 002 OF 005

security measures, and other measures related to accounting,
securing and physical protection of related biological materials.
The workshop program will include direct observation of pathogen
security and other biosafety and biosecurity measures during site
visits to several prominent laboratories in Nairobi.

5. The workshop will encourage experience-sharing among the
participating States and identification of specific
capacity-building measures responsive to regional and national
requirements suitable for participating African states. The
workshop will also offer an opportunity for participants to
identify specific regional and international sources of assistance,
in particular using the Technical Assistance Template of the 1540
Committee. Participating African states are requested to each
consider sending three representatives to the workshop. Officials
and experts with broad policy responsibility for laboratory and
pathogen security will find this workshop particularly useful.

-------------
KENYAN BUY-IN
-------------

6. On November 18, ISN Special Assistant David Maness and SNL
Principal Member of Laboratory Staff Louis Griego met with
Ambassador Binsai Chepsongol, Director of Americas Affairs at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss implementation of UN
Security Council Resolution 1540, as well as the importance of the
upcoming workshop and Kenya's role as host. Ambassador Chepsongol
expressed the GoK's enthusiasm for this initiative, and undertook
to organize an inter-ministerial committee to oversee workshop
preparations, with its first meeting to take place at the MFA
November 24. It is clear that the GoK wishes to take ownership of
the workshop. Ambassador Chepsongol also expressed appreciation
for the U.S.-Kenyan cooperation in this effort as beneficial for
bilateral relations.

7. Subsequent meetings with GoK officials in other offices,
including the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the
Ministry of Livestock Development, also confirmed host government
buy-in. The visitors briefed the local officials on the larger
background of UNSCR 1540 as well as its specific applications
within the African context, around which the workshop will be
organized.

8. Ambassador Chepsongol assured the visitors that with adequate
preparation, including timely submission of biodata and
itineraries, the workshop participants can on arrival in Kenya be
quickly cleared through immigrations and customs and directed to
ground transportation. Embassy Nairobi's GSO staff will work with

NAIROBI 00002521 003 OF 005

GoK officials to ensure smooth arrival of the approximately 70
African presenters and participants expected. The Nairobi RSO has
also offered to provide a safety and security briefing for American
guests. Travelers from the following African countries do not
normally require Kenyan visas for visits less than 30 days:
Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Travelers from Cameroon, Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria will require
Kenyan visas before traveling. Participants from the following
countries may elect to apply for visas upon arrival, although Post
recommends that they obtain visas at the nearest Kenyan Embassy
prior to traveling: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo-Brazzaville,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Gabon,
Tunisia, and the United States.

-----------------------
LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
-----------------------

9. Proposed facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi
(UNON) are modern, secure, and highly suitable for the workshop's
objectives. Located across the street from Embassy Nairobi UNON
regularly hosts international conferences. Ms. Elizabeth Mutua of
the UNON Meetings Coordination Section demonstrated UNON's ability
to provide audiovisual support and interpretation services, plenary
and bilateral meeting seating arrangements, secretarial assistance,
banners, and nametags.

10. Workshop delegates can be lodged at the Tribe Hotel,
www.africanpridehotels.com/tribe. Hotel managers agreed to provide
60 rooms at a nightly rate of USD 195 each, significantly below the
maximum USG lodging per diem for Nairobi of USD 260. The hotel
will also reserve 12 additional rooms at USD 215 per night. The
Tribe dining room seats 64. The hotel is newly constructed,
provides adequate communication facilities, and is within a
five-minute drive of UNON. Embassy Nairobi can contract for two
buses to move participants to and from the hotel, UNON, and
laboratories. Participants can receive per diem either through one
of three commercial money transfer services available at the
Village Market shopping center, located adjacent to the Tribe
Hotel, or through the Embassy's contracted financial institution,
the Commercial Bank of Africa. Post recommends the latter.

-----------------
LABORATORY VISITS
-----------------

11. On November 19, the visitors met with leaders of the Kenya
Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), who are enthusiastic to
showcase their institution to workshop participants. KEMRI is a

NAIROBI 00002521 004 OF 005

state corporation offering microbiology laboratory services,
disease surveillance, and graduate education. More information is
available at www.kemri.org. KEMRI collaborates closely with the
CDC, which maintains a laboratory on the KEMRI compound. Other
organizations on the compound include the U.S. Navy Medical
Research Laboratory, Japan's International Cooperation Agency, and
the Wellcome Trust. KEMRI Acting Director Dr. Solomon Mpoke is
participating in the inter-ministerial committee to prepare for the
workshop and is willing to help identify appropriate workshop
participants from across Africa.

12. The advance team also toured the International Livestock
Research Institute (ILRI) and the GoK's Central Veterinary
Laboratories. The ILRI is a state-of-the-art campus visible at
www.ilri.org. ILRI leaders conduct international biosafety and
biosecurity education for Africans on a regular basis and are
amenable to playing a major part in the workshop. Facilities
Upgrade Project Manager Ash Randev, a Canadian citizen resident in
Nairobi, is eager to demonstrate the laboratories' ability to
participate in continent-wide capacity building. The nearby
Central Veterinary Laboratories, a component of the Ministry of
Livestock Development, is an approachable, practical worksite.
Deputy Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Joseph Mwangi Macharia
is willing and able to demonstrate best practices in a manner
appropriate to each participant country's level of development.

13. Embassy recommends KEMRI, the CDC's Global Disease Detection
Laboratory, ILRI, and the Central Veterinary Laboratories for
workshop tours. Each of these facilities handles materials related
to potential biological weapons on a regular basis and all
demonstrate particular strengths relevant to African states' needs
in implementing UNSCR 1540. Resident scientists are willing to
share relevant experience during facility visits and in panel
discussions. The laboratories also can demonstrate procedures for
accounting for, securing, and protecting potentially hazardous
biological materials.

------------------------------------
PARTICIPANT NOMINATIONS STILL NEEDED
------------------------------------

14. Post is aware of a lack of response from many AF posts to
reftel request for nominations from host country governments;
organizers need participant biodata urgently in order to ensure
airfare remains within budget. To assist posts in identifying
participants, the CDC's Dr. Kariuki Njenga offers to use his
extensive biological contacts across Africa. Participants must be
in a position to make progress in formulating and implementing
their respective countries' UNSCR 1540 National Action Plans.

NAIROBI 00002521 005 OF 005

Posts may work directly with Dr. Njenga in identifying and inviting
appropriate officials. Dr. Njenga is available at
knjenga@ke.cdc.gov. (Please copy Louis Griego on any
correspondence, lggrieg@sandia.gov.) Participants' travel and per
diem will be fully funded by the USG. Participants must be
sufficiently conversant in biosafety and biosecurity to be able to
add to discussions and take home new expertise. They should also
be influential enough within their governments to effect positive
change in their home countries, particularly with regard to
drafting and implementing National Action Plans to comply with the
requirements of UNSCR 1540. More information on National Action
Plans is available at www.un.org/sc/1540/nationalreports.shtml.

---------
FOLLOW-UP
---------

15. On November 24, Ambassador Chepsongol chaired an organizing
meeting attended by Dr. Willy Tonui, President of the African
Biological Safety Association; representatives of the Kenyan
National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), ILRI, the
Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) and Dr. Njenga. NCST, a component of the
Kenyan Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, will
be the lead GoK agency for the workshop. The inter-ministerial
committee approved workshop visits to the four laboratories listed
in paragraph 12 and discussed expanding the visits to include
Kenyatta National Hospital, which is adjacent to KEMRI. Ambassador
Chepsongol requested USG funding for a workshop secretariat of six
staff members. Most urgently he reiterated his request that the
names of the African participants be provided to his office as soon
as possible. Post replied that participants' names are still
forthcoming.

16. The visiting delegation (see para. 6) has cleared paragraphs
1-14.

RANNEBERGER

MINIMIZE CONSIDERED
RANNEBERGER

© Scoop Media