Arfworkplan for Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime

May 6, 2008 Draft

ARFWorkplan for Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime

Executive Summary:

Why:

Simplifies and consolidates activities to reduce burden on members.

Ensures complementarity of ARF’s work with other regional efforts.

Enhances institutional support to ensure sustainability of CTTC work.

What:

A coordinated, comprehensive, and long-term ARF CTTC strategy.

Focuses efforts on Core Areaswhere ARF can add most value.

Initial Core Areas are:

Bioterrorism and Biosecurity

Narcotics Trafficking

Cybersecurity and Cyberterrorism

Core Areas not exclusive. Other CTTC efforts can address current and emerging threats. Future Core Areas can rise.

Possible Workplan projects include:

Capacity-building workshops
Training courses
Multilateral exercises
Pilot projects in one or more ARF countries
Technical assistance

Who:

ARF Chair chooses:

Lead Countries to coordinate activities for each core area.
Co-Sponsors to propose additional projects and advise.

Reinforces ARF Unit to increase technical support to projects.

Annual Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on CTTC reviews Workplan to modify and update. CTTC experts help coordinate project review.

When:

May-July 2008: SOM/Ministerial endorsement and approval of Workplan framework – concept paper, initial core areas, and leadership/management structure.
Fall 2008- Spring 2009: Countries submit projects to the Workplan. Further Revisions to the Workplan framework are made if needed.
Spring 2009 ISM-CTTC: In-depth review of project proposals within the endorsed core areas.
Summer 2009: After SOM review, Ministersapprove 2009-2010 projects and Final Workplan. Projects begin.

Context: Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) issues represent some of the most pressing and potentially useful areas for cooperation in the ARF region. In part due to the dialogue within ARF, there is a growing regional consensus on the nature of these threats. A large number of international and regional efforts exist towards combating these threats. ARF needs to make concrete progress on those areas where it can bring the most added value. ARF has dealt with a wide range of issues including maritime security, illicit drugs, terrorism, cybersecurity and others. A more focused and coordinated strategy is needed. The report of the November 2007 Intersessional Support Group (ISG) meeting in Brunei also noted several delegations calling for a comprehensive program on CTTC issues. The Co-chairs Statement from the 5th ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on CTTC called for concrete and practical cooperation and in particular capacity-building. The 6th ARF ISM-CTTC reaffirmed the need for such cooperation, stating that future work of the ISM-CTTC be practical, action-oriented, and concrete and many delegations expressed preliminary support for a CTTC workplan. It also affirmed the need for a workplan’s complementarity to existing work such as ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter Terrorism on the implementation of the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism (ACCT).

Objective: Create a CTTC Workplan drawn from elements of the “ARF Cooperation Framework on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime,” a comprehensive document prepared by the ARF Unit based on previous ARF goals, commitments, and efforts in the CTTC field. The Workplan may also be drawn from a needs assessment from the conclusions of the various ISM-CTTC meetings.

To create a vetted, coordinated, and long-term strategy that:

helps ARF participants meet their CTTC-related national, regional, and international commitments,
focuses ARF’s efforts towards concrete, capacity-building efforts, technical support and information exchange,
complements existing initiatives,
simplifies and consolidates ARF CTTC-related activities to reduce burden.

ASEAN, SCO, CSTO, CIS, OSCE, APEC, OAS, the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering, and other international organizations have similar plans of work. The workplans of these organizations couldbe a useful model for ARF. and The participation of some of these institutional representativestheir participationas well as briefs on ARF work in separate, but related areas in appropriate ARF CTTC-related and ISM-CTTC meetings would ensure complementarity to the Workplan’s efforts efforts.

Framework:The workplan identifies the Core Areasfor ARF’s CTTC efforts. While there are other important aspects of international CTTC cooperation, ARF should focus its own work on the areas where it could bring the most added value given its geographic focus, participation, or past work. In other words, ARF does not need to “do everything,” in this vast fieldduring the short term, but rather “do some things very well.” CTTC-related efforts in other fields can continue, but progress in initial Core Areas can serve as models for other CTTC-related areas in the future. Each Core Area is followed by a brief, but broad explanation of the scope of efforts that will be taken under ARF.

At the 15th ARF on July 24, 2008 (preceded by discussions at lower level ARF meetings and in accordance with ARF procedures), Ministers will endorse the attached framework for the workplan. Specific projects will not be submitted for approval until the following inter-sessional year. Thus, Ministers at the 15th ARF will endorse the attached draft ARF CTTC Workplan framework which includes:

the designated Core Areas,
their scope,
modalities for Core Area leadership,
and this concept paper.

Once the ARF CTTC Workplan framework is approved by Ministers, ARF participants will propose capacity-building and technical support projects and proposalsthat fit within the endorsed framework. The ISGs and the 7th ISM-CTTC in early 2009will all discuss the proposals, revise if necessary to ensure they meet the needs of the region, offer additional ideas or resources for projects, and discuss the implementation for these projects. Reaching a general consensus at the ISM-CTTC annual meeting will be important to ensure that Ministers receive a workplan draft endorsed by an ARF meeting of CTTC experts. In this sense, the annual ISM-CTTC will serve as a coordinating body for ARF’s CTTC work among CTTC experts. However, ultimate approval will rest in the ISG, SOM, and Ministerial meetings.

Project Ideas: These capacity-building projects can take a variety of forms to fit the particular assistance needs and nature of the Core Area. As appropriate, projects can be single events or a series of events with increasing complexity. Some examples include, but are not limited to:

Voluntary Training Courses from regional training centers (SEARCCT, JCLEC, ILEA, etc.) to provide capacity building in the Core Area. The proposers of the project, Co-Sponsors, or Lead Countries should consider contributing funds to the training courses. While all ARF participants would be invited to send technical experts to such a course (self-funded), in coordination with the center, sponsors of the training course may plan to fund some participants from interested countries.
Capacity-Building Workshops that share information on experiences and bring in government, private sector, and other relevant experts to brief, train, and/or develop best practices.
ARF Pilot Projects that will utilize funding given to the ARF Fund for a submitted technical assistance or capacity-building project(s) in one or more ARF countries. The ARF Pilot Project should be within the scope of one of ARF’s Core Areas and could be implemented by either qualified government or private sector agencies.
Multilateral Tabletop or Field Exercisesthat would test the implementation of international agreements, regional arrangements, or modes of communication among ARF and sub-regional participants. Future exercises should take into account not only the need to identify needs for and promote capacity-building and technical support, but also modes of communication and information-sharing among exercise participants.

Each year at the annual ISM-CTTC, the Workplan will be reviewed in depth to ensure continued relevance, add additional follow-on activities, and revise if necessary. Major changes to the ARF CTTC Workplan, such as the addition or subtraction of Core Areas, should be approved by Ministers each year. Thus, the ARF CTTC Workplan will be considered a living document.

The extensive involvement of all ARF participants is encouraged and the Workplan will not impose mandatory obligations upon any participants without its consent.

Leadership and Management Structure: Lead Countrieswill be responsible for coordinating and presenting the input provided by ARF participants to their respective Core Area, proposing their own projects, coordinating the work of their Core Area, and seeking out funding and hosts for projects in the Core Area in need of assistance. All ARF participants are encouraged to input appropriate projects to the Core Area. However, every Lead Country and Co-Sponsor should set a voluntary goal for introducing and contributing towards one project per year within the framework of the Core Area during their two-year tenure beginning in late 2008). Modalities for filling these leadership positions are laid out below in the Timeline, which remains flexible as needed. (Note: Future Lead Countries and Co-Sponsors will be decided in this same manner as laid out in the Timeline.) Lead Countries will be composed of one ASEAN and one non-ASEAN country, supported by the ARF Unit of the ASEAN Secretariat. Lead Countries will be responsible for briefly updating each ARF Inter-Sessional Support Group (ISG), Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), and annual ISM-CTTC meeting on recent and future progress in their Core Area. The ARF SOMwill monitor the effectiveness of the activities based on reports given by the Lead Countries.

Co-Sponsors have no limiting factors on either the number of co-sponsors or membership criteria. Co-Sponsors submit project proposals and advise Lead Countries on the development of their Core Area. Lead Countries and Co-sponsors are highly encouraged to coordinate outside of ARF plenary meetings in order to manage their Core Area’s efforts.

ISM-CTTC Co-Cchairs should also be consulted in the development of Core Area projects. ISM-CTTC Co-Chairs should seek to create an ISM-CTTC agenda and meeting conducive to substantive discussion of and overall guidance to the Workplan. As the Workplan progress in its early stages, ARF should revisit the role of the ISM-CTTC Co-Chairs, perhaps to increase their coordination role and serve as co-chairs for a set period of time.

An essential element of this workplan includes expanding the mandate for the ARF Unit towards this effort. In order to effectively implement the workplan and specific projects, the ARF Unit will need to play an increasingly important role. The ARF Unit will need to:

Provide administrative and technical support to ISM-CTTC and appropriate project meetings
Liaison regularly with Lead Countries to ensure adequate coordination and implementation of workplan requirements.
Serve as a depository of incoming project proposals for countries,
Updating ARF, perhaps quarterly as appropriate, on Workplan contributions.
As directed by Lead Countries and in consultation with the ARF Chair, coordinate the implementation of certain projects including financial coordination of ARF contributions, contract services, and, if and as appropriate, project monitoring.
Coordinate, as appropriate, with training centers and other regional and international organizations.

Flexible Timeline:

Late January, 2008:Draft ARF CTTC Workplan distributed to all ARF participants for initial consideration

February 21-22, 2008:ARF CTTC Workplan framework is discussed by participants at the ISM-CTTC in Semarang, Indonesia.

March 14, 2008: Comments due to the U.S. Concept paper is revised and redistributed.

April 2-4, 2008: ARF CTTC Workplan framework is further discussed at the ISG on CBMs and PD in Ottawa, Canada. Concept paper is revised and redistributed.

April 30, 2008:Deadline for Comments to the 2nd Draft.

May 9, 2008:Senior Officials endorse the attached draft framework for the CTTC Workplan including the concept paper, designated Core Areas, and leadership/management concepts.

July 24, 2008: ARF Ministers approve the draft ARF CTTC Workplan framework.

No later than 30 days

before Fall 2008 ISG:ARF participants submit to the ARF Chair (Thailand) their interest in serving as Lead Countries and Co-Sponsors of the designated Core Areas. (The leadership designation process will restart every two years.)

Fall 2008 ISG: The ARF Chair (Thailand) will announce his recommendations for CTTC leadership positions (Lead Countries and Co-Sponsors). Consensus will be reached by the heads of delegation to the ISG and forwarded to Senior Officials ad referendum for final approval.

in accordance with ARF procedural improvements currently in deliberation.

Late 2008-2009: ARF participants will forward appropriate capacity-building projects and proposalsto the ARF Unit that fit within the endorsed Core Areas. The ARF Unit distributes updated copies of the draft populated workplan quarterly, as appropriate.

2nd Quarter 2009:At the 7th ARF ISM on CTTC, participants discuss the project proposals and Workplan, revise if necessary to ensure they meet the needs of the region, offer additional ideas or resources for projects, and discuss their implementation.

Spring 2009 ISG: Participants further discuss the populated ARF CTTC Workplan, revising project proposals as appropriate. ISM Co-Chairs and Lead Countries present the projects for their Core Areas.

Late Spring 2009: Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) participants endorse the projects and revise the Workplan as necessary.

Summer 2009: Ministers approve the ARF CTTC Workplan projects. Projects begin.

Proposed Core Areas: CTTC Core Areas should seek to strike a balance between Counter Terrorism (CT) and Transnational Crime (TC) threats. ARF participants may want to begin such cooperation with only a few Core Areas. ARF can build success off of these and then venture into new CTTC-related Core Areas in future inter-sessional years. Other work in the CTTC field may be done by ARF outside of these Core Areas. However, comprehensive cooperation in a new area should be reflected in an updated Workplan. Again, a Core Area is an area of increased focus towardsome of ARF’s CTTC-related efforts.

Possible, future Core Areas may include, but are not limited to: a broader effort to CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) terrorism, maritime security, border and transport security, and trafficking in persons.

Core Area #1Maritime SecurityNarcotics Trafficking

Scope: ARF’s narcotics trafficking efforts should target drug production and trafficking, enhance law enforcement capacity in affected countries, address border deficiencies, support the development of national legislations, and increase coordination among law enforcement entities in ARF countries. In particular, ARF should seek to apply national precursor controls with uniform effectiveness throughout the world, as a means of avoiding the displacement of diversion points across national borders. The skills associated with the key elements of maritime security offer the means to address not only potential acts of terrorism, but also other transnational security challenges including smuggling, illegal immigration, piracy, and narcotics trafficking. ARF’s maritime security efforts should seek to build the capacities of littoral and riverine states, ensure interoperability, and implement existing international instruments, if applicable, for the suppression of threats to the security of the maritime domain. Potential areas for cooperation may include Suppression of Unlawful Acts) (SUA) and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code implementation (including development of appropriate regulatory and legislative frameworks and capacity), interoperability, vessel tracking, financial tracking, and communication exercises.

Lead Countries: 1 ASEAN, 1 non-ASEAN

Co-Sponsors: no limit or designation

Proposed Projects:(no limit on the number of projects)

- Name: Description

Past ARF/ASEANWork:

- ARF Seminar on Narcotics Trafficking, September 17-19, China.ARF Statement on Cooperation Against Piracy and Other Threats to Maritime Security, Phnom Penh, June 2003

- ARF Workshop on Capacity Building of Maritime Security Tokyo, 19-20 December 2005

- ARF Maritime Security Shore Exercise, Singapore, 22-23 January 2007

- ARF Roundtable Stocktaking on Maritime Security Issues, August 24-25, 2007

- ARF Seminar on the Law of the Sea, the Philippines, forthcoming

- Draft ARF Statement on on the Prevention of the Diversion of Precursors into Illicit Drug Manufactures.

Core Area #2Bioterrorism and Biosecurity

ScopeIncreased protection of dangerous biological materials, technology, and expertise will build the capacities of ARF participants to prevent, or respond to, acts of bioterrorism. The dual-use nature of biological science must be addressed with dual benefit assistance to prevent bioterrorism and continue biological science development for peaceful purposes. This will also build safe, secure, and sustainable capacity to combat infectious diseases, thereby meshing international security and public health priorities. Efforts should be in support of the goals of the Biological Weapons Convention, and related commitments, and be consistent with international law.

Lead Countries: 1 ASEAN, 1 non-ASEAN

Co-Sponsors: no limit or designation

Proposed Projects:(no limit on the number of projects)

- Name: Description

Past ARF/ASEAN Work:

- ARF Statement on Cooperative Counter-Terrorist Action on Border Security, Phnom Penh, June 17, 2003

- ARF Workshop on Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, San Francisco, February 14, 2007

- ARF Statement on Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, Manila, August 2, 2007

- ASEAN Working Group on Bio-Terrorism Prevention

Core Area #3 Cybersecurity and Cyberterrorism

Scope:Cyber security and prevention of cyber terrorism with a view to enhance the response capacity and technological infrastructure of ARF participants to deter and prevent the misuse of the internet by terrorists or terrorist groups, including recruitment, campaign, and financial transfers.