Organization of American States (OAS).doc

Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Port Security ? Report 2000/20001 ? This report on the activities of the TAG on Port Security is provided to the CIP Subcommittee on Policy and Coordination in accordance with Resolution CECIP/RES.5(II-00). The United States, as Chair of the TAG on Port Security, in an effort to promote and market the TAG has written letters, participated in meetings, written and distributed reports, and held port security training sessions. These have included: Sent a letter to each delegate of the countries represented on the Port Security TAG. The letter emphasized the importance of private sector inputs and encouraged the delegates to actively participate and to begin developing a network of appropriate commercial industry representatives regarding their membership in the TAG. The letter also suggested the potential value to the TAG of obtaining the cooperative assistance of the agencies within each delegates government that deal with security issues. Participated in the American Association of Port Authorities Security Committee 2000 Annual Meeting, hosted by the Port of Miami. The presentation emphasized the importance of cargo security guidelines and standards developed on an international basis and the relevance of the OAS TAG on Port Security in that endeavor. Participated in a Caribbean/Latin American Action (CLAA) conference and organized a focus group session with key members interested in cooperative efforts pertaining to port security matters. Continue to interact with CLAA and contribute assistance in staffing security-related panels planned for future conferences. Continued interaction with the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), which is the primary ocean carrier trade association in the Caribbean Basin and actively dedicated to pursuing international cooperative solutions to port and cargo security problems in the region among OAS member countries. T