*EPF204 08/17/2004
Text: Malaysia, Thailand Join Container Security Initiative
(Initiative deters terrorists from exploiting cargo containers) (820)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner has announced that CBP officers will be deployed to the ports of Laem Chabang in Thailand and Tanjung Pelegas in Malaysia, as part of CBP's Container Security Initiative (CSI).

"The primary purpose of CSI is to protect the global trading system and the trade lanes between CSI ports and the U.S.," Bonner said. "Because CSI will detect and therefore deter attempts by terrorists to exploit cargo containers, the Container Security Initiative protects the U.S. against acts of terrorism."

CBP signed a Declaration of Principles with the Government of Malaysia on Jan. 20, 2003, and with the Kingdom of Thailand on June 11, 2003, to cooperate in the CSI. Laem Chabang and Tanjung Pelepas will be the 24th and 25th CSI ports respectively to become operational.

Following are the texts of CBP press releases on Malaysia's and Thailand's participation:

(begin text)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces That Port of Laem Chabang becomes 24th Container Security Initiative (CSI) Port To Go Operational

08/13/2004

Washington, DC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and Director General Chavalit Sethameteekul, Royal Thai Customs Department, Kingdom of Thailand, announced today that CBP officers will be deployed to the port of Laem Chabang as part of CBP's Container Security Initiative (CSI).

CBP officers will work with host government personnel to target any cargo container that poses a potential risk for terrorism destined for the United States. Officials of the Kingdom of Thailand will inspect containers identified as a potential terrorist risk.

On June 11, 2003, Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Minister Surakiart Sathiratathai, Kingdom of Thailand, signed a declaration of principles to participate in the Container Security Initiative (CSI).

"Because CSI will detect and therefore deter attempts by terrorists to exploit cargo containers, the Container Security Initiative protects the U.S. against acts of terrorism. It secures trade between our two nations as well as the global trading system," said Commissioner Bonner.

CSI was proposed by Commissioner Bonner and launched in January 2002. CSI has been accepted globally as a bold and revolutionary initiative to secure maritime cargo shipments against the terrorist threat. CSI is operational at 24 of the world's major seaports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.

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(begin text)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces That Port of Tanjung Pelepas Becomes 25th Container Security Initiative (CSI) Port To Go Operational

08/16/2004

Washington, DC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and Datuk Abdul Halil Bin Abdul Mutalib, Director-General of Customs of the Government of Malaysia, announced today that CBP officers will be deployed to the port of Tanjung Pelepas as part of CBP's Container Security Initiative (CSI).

CBP officers will work with host government personnel to target any cargo container that poses a potential risk for terrorism destined for the United States. Officials of the Malaysian government will inspect containers identified as a potential terrorist risk.

CBP and the government of Malaysia signed a Declaration of Principles to cooperate in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) on January 20, 2003.

"The primary purpose of CSI is to protect the global trading system and the trade lanes between CSI ports and the U.S. By expanding CSI to the port of Tanjung Pelepas, the government of Malaysia is helping to make a safer, more secure world trading system," Commissioner Bonner said.

CBP deployed a team of officers to the port of Klang on March 8, 2004 to work with their Malaysian counterparts to target cargo containers destined for the United States.

"We agree that CSI is essential in securing an indispensable, but vulnerable link in the chain of global trade: containerized shipping," said Datuk Abdul Halil Bin Abdul Mutalib, Director-General of Customs of the Government of Malaysia. "We recognize the importance to deter and interdict any terrorist attempt to disrupt global trade or to attempt to make use of commercial shipping to further their own schemes."

CSI was proposed by Commissioner Bonner and launched in January 2002. CSI has been accepted globally as a bold and revolutionary initiative to secure maritime cargo shipments against the terrorist threat. CSI is operational at 25 of the world's major seaports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation's borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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