Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME1544
2002-03-27 08:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

REPORT ON IDLI ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES

Tags:  AORC EAID KDEM IDLI 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001544 

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND L/UNA
USAID FOR MIKE MIKLAUCIC AND JOHN GARDNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID KDEM AORC EAID KDEM IDLI IDLI
SUBJECT: REPORT ON IDLI ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES

REF: A) ROME 981, B) (O1) ROME 6330

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001544

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND L/UNA
USAID FOR MIKE MIKLAUCIC AND JOHN GARDNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID KDEM AORC EAID KDEM IDLI IDLI
SUBJECT: REPORT ON IDLI ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES

REF: A) ROME 981, B) (O1) ROME 6330


1. SUMMARY: THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW INSTITUTE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01544 01 OF 02 270916Z
(IDLI) ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES MET IN ROME MARCH 20,
2002 TO APPROVE IDLI'S WORK PLAN, ENDORSE NEW BOARD
MEMBERS, AND APPROVE CHANGES TO IDLI'S BASIC TEXTS.
WHILE THE CHANGES WERE IN LINE WITH THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS' STRATEGIC VISION FOR IDLI, MEMBER STATES WERE
NOT READY TO APPROVE CHANGES TO IDLI'S BASIC TEXTS, AND A
CORRESPONDENCE VOTE WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE CHANGES. END
SUMMARY.


2. THE IDLI ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES MET MARCH 20, 2002
IN ROME. IDLI MEMBERS ARE: U.S., TUNISIA, SENEGAL,
NORWAY, FRANCE, CHINA, BULGARIA, AUSTRALIA, COLOMBIA,
ECUADOR, EGYPT, THE NETHERLANDS, THE PHILIPPINES, ITALY
AUSTRIA AND SUDAN. USAID LEGAL COUNSEL JOHN GARDNER AND
MISOFF COMPRISED THE U.S. DELEGATION.


3. IDLI'S ANNUAL REPORT, PREPARED BY DIRECTOR WILLIAM
LORIS (U.S.) NOTED THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S STRATEGIC
PLAN, ENTITLED "VISION 2000," ENVISIONED IDLI GROWING IN
STATURE AS AN ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE
RECOGNITION INTERNATIONALLY AS A LEADER IN PROMOTING THE
RULE OF LAW AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPMENT (SEE DISCUSSION
REFTEL B). LORIS HIGHLIGHTED IN PARTICULAR THE WORK THAT
IDLI HAD DONE TRAINING JUDGES IN EAST TIMOR, ITS PROPOSED
PROJECT ON RESTORATION OF RULE OF LAW IN AFGHANISTAN, AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF ITS ALUMNI NETWORKS (SOME 29 LOCAL
ASSOCIATIONS OF IDLI-TRAINED LEGAL PROFESSIONALS FROM
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION). THE
RECENT DECISION OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE AN
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF USD 200,000 TO IDLI WAS WELCOMED,
ALONG WITH HOPES THAT OTHER DONORS MIGHT CONSIDER MAKING
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01544 01 OF 02 270916Z
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL.


4. IN LINE WITH "VISION 2000," MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO
APPROVE TWO CHANGES TO IDLI'S "ESTABLISHMENT AGREEMENT":
1) CHANGE THE NAME TO INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW
ORGANIZATION (VICE INSTITUTE) IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE
COMMON MISPERCEPTION THAT IDLI IS CONNECTED TO AN

ACADEMIC INSTITUTE AND 2) PROVIDE A SPECIFIC MANDATE FOR
RULE OF LAW AND GOOD GOVERNANCE (REFTEL A).


5. CHINA AND FRANCE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE NOT IN A
POSITION TO SUPPORT THE CHANGES. CHINA STATED THAT HER
COUNTRY DID NOT WISH TO SEE IDLI CHANGE FROM A TRAINING
INSTITUTE TO A POLICY INSTITUTE AND THEREFORE WAS NOT IN
A POSITION TO ADOPT CHANGES TO THE BASIC TEXTS (COMMENT:
THE CHINESE POSITION MAY REFLECT THE FACT THAT
"GOVERNANCE" AND "RULE OF LAW" -- WHILE ALWAYS IMPLICIT
IN IDLI'S MANDATE -- WERE HERETOFORE NOT SO EMPHASIZED.
END COMMENT). FRANCE DID NOT EXPLAIN HER POSITION TO THE
ASSEMBLY, BUT TOLD USDEL ON THE MARGINS THAT FRANCE WAS
OPPOSED TO CHANGING IDLI'S NAME TO "ORGANIZATION"
BECAUSE, WITH ONLY 16 MEMBERS, IT WAS PREMATURE FOR THE
ORGANIZATION TO ASPIRE TO UN SPECIALIZED AGENCY STATUS
(REFERRING TO THE DIRECTOR'S OPENING REMARKS WHERE HE
SAID THAT HE HOPED THAT ONE DAY IDLI WOULD BE TO "RULE OF
LAW" WHAT WHO WAS TO HEALTH). FURTHERMORE, FRANCE DID
NOT SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION MOVING AWAY FROM A VOLUNTARY
TO ASSESSED BUDGET BASIS AND WAS CONCERNED THAT, AS AN
"ORGANIZATION," IDLI MIGHT NEXT PROPOSE A NEW FUNDING
BASIS.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01544 01 OF 02 270916Z

6. U.S., NETHERLANDS, AUSTRALIA AND ITALY EXPRESSED
SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED CHANGES. OTHER DELEGATES STATED
THAT THEY WERE WITHOUT INSTRUCTIONS, OR NOT AUTHORIZED TO
VOTE. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE VOTE WOULD BE CONDUCTED BY
CORRESPONDENCE AND A RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED TO THAT
EFFECT. (COMMENT: A THREE QUARTERS MAJORITY IS NEEDED TO
CHANGE THE BASIC TEXTS. END COMMENT).


7. THE MEMBERS APPROVED WITHOUT DEBATE THE DATE OF THE
NEXT SESSION (MARCH 2005),A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE
POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A REGIONAL OFFICE IN CAIRO,
APPROVAL OF A NEW STEERING COMMITTEE (AUSTRIA, CHINA AND
EGYPT) AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THREE NEW DIRECTORS:

JUSTICE CATHERINE BRANSON (AUSTRALIA),FEDERAL COURT OF
AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY
MRS. MAY.Y.OH (SINGAPORE),PARTNER, MAY OH AND WEE,
SINGAPORE
MR. KO-YUNG TUNG (U.S.),VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL
COUNSEL OF THE WORLD BANK, WASHINGTON D.C.

NOTE: DIRECTORS SERVE IN THEIR PRIVATE CAPACITY. END

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6368

PAGE 01 ROME 01544 02 OF 02 270916Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DODE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00
UTED-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 NSAE-00 OES-01
OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /006W
-------------- 7B20BE 270917Z /38
R 270828Z MAR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2961
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001544

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

STATE FOR IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN AND L/UNA
USAID FOR MIKE MIKLAUCIC AND JOHN GARDNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID KDEM AORC EAID KDEM IDLI IDLI
SUBJECT: REPORT ON IDLI ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES

NOTE.


8. COMMENT: CHANGING NAMES DOES NOT A SPECIALIZED AGENCY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01544 02 OF 02 270916Z
MAKE, NOR IS IT INCORRECT TO SAY THAT IDLI IS NOW AN
"ORGANIZATION" AS MUCH AS IT IS AN "INSTITUTE."
NONETHELESS, FRANCE'S CONCERNS ARE REASONABLE ONES THAT
WE SHARE. IDLI WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT -- WHILE MOVING
FORWARD WITH ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS' AMBITIOUS PROGRAM --
IT DOES NOT GET OUT AHEAD OF MEMBER STATES' OWN VISION OF
IDLI AS A SMALL (BUT VALUABLE),TRAINING-FOCUSSED, NICHE
PLAYER IN THE DEVELOPMENT FIELD. HEILEMAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME01544 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED