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ARF CTTC Workplan U.S. Proposal. ASEAN Regional Forum Intersessional Support Group Meeting Ottawa, April 3-4, 2008. ARF CTTC Workplan Proposal. Focus efforts on core areas where ARF can add most value. Simplify and consolidate activities to reduce burden on members.
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ARF CTTC WorkplanU.S. Proposal ASEAN Regional Forum Intersessional Support Group Meeting Ottawa, April 3-4, 2008
ARF CTTC Workplan Proposal • Focus efforts on core areas where ARF can add most value. • Simplify and consolidate activities to reduce burden on members. • Ensure complementarity with other regional organizations and efforts. • Enhance institutional support to ensure sustainability. • Devise flexible procedures, subject to guidance from Ministers and Senior Officials.
ARF CTTC Cooperation • ARF successfully has formed regional consensus: • on the nature of CTTC threats • that regional cooperation is required to address these serious challenges. • ARF has identified CTTC areas for cooperation –goals and commitments. • CTTC workshops and seminars held on: • Maritime security • Illicit drugs • Terrorist financing • Cyber security • Inter-civilization Dialogue
Current Challenges • While ARF can be a useful venue for exploring new areas of CTTC-related cooperation, ARF cannot do everything in every area. • Need to avoid gaps and duplication. UN, ASEAN, APEC, other regional/functional groups and organizations also are undertaking regional CTTC activities. • CTTC challenges require organized, efficient and institutionalized approach, not ad hoc support.
Way Forward • “Focused and coordinated CTTC strategy needed.” • ARF Unit Report on “Cooperation Framework on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime” • Need “concrete and practical cooperation and in particular capacity-building.” • 5th ARF ISM on CTTC Co-chairs Statement • Ensure member resources well used and not duplicative – avoid “meeting fatigue.” • Institutionalization – a long-term goal. • Workplan: Create a coordinated, vetted, and long-term ARF CTTC strategy. • 6thISM-CTTC expressed “preliminary support”
U.S. Proposal Objectives • Help ARF participants meet their existing CTTC-related national, regional, and international commitments. • Focus ARF’s work on concrete, capacity-building efforts and technical assistance. • Complement existing initiatives and other regional activities. • Simplify and consolidate ARF activities to reduce burden. (Other regional organizations – OSCE, OAS, and APEC currently have workplans.)
CTTC Workplan Concept • Identify two to four Core Areas to focus capacity-building work in priority CTTC areas. • Core Areas focus, but not exclusive – other CTTC efforts can address emerging threats. • Emphasis on: • Capacity-building workshops • Training courses • Joint exercises • Pilot projects • Technical assistance.
CTTC Workplan Concept • Voluntary Lead Countries (1 ASEAN, 1 non-ASEAN) coordinate CTTC activities for each core area. • Co-Sponsors: Propose additional projects. • Reinforce ARF Unit • Increase administrative and technical support to the ISM-CTTC and projects. • Annual ISM-CTTC experts’ review of workplan, with modifications and updates as needed. • ISM-CTTC experts should help coordinate ARF’s CTTC work.
Core Areas • Limited to few where ARF can add most value. • Criteria: • Where is assistance and sharing of information/best practices most needed for these security threats? • What areas are not being covered by other groups or activities? • What resources do ARF members have to contribute? • Initial U.S. suggestions: • Biodefense • Maritime Security • Others? • U.S. does not have fixed view, welcomes discussion of proposals.
Proposed Timing: A Two-Year Plan January-February 2008: 1st Draft Circulated and Discussed at ISM-CTTC. April 30, 2008: Comments to 2nd Draft Due. May-July 2008: SOM/Ministerial endorsement and approval of Workplan framework – concept paper, initial core areas, and leadership/management structure. Fall 2008 ISG : Inter-sessional selection of CTTC core area sponsors by the ARF Chair. Spring 2009 CTTC-ISM: In-depth Review of capacity-building projects and proposals within the endorsed core areas. Spring 2009 ISG: Review and recommend proposals for core area activities. Revise Workplan further if necessary. Summer 2009 SOM and Ministerial: Endorse and Approve recommended 2009-2010 projects and complete Workplan. Projects may begin.