Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1235
2003-03-25 08:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
MEETING OF UNIDROIT SUB-FINANCE COMMITTEE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 001235
SIPDIS
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME
L/PIL FOR HAL BURMAN AND JEFF KOVARS
IO/EDA FOR SHARON KOTOK AND IO/S FOR LISA JACOBSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ABUD UNIDROIT
SUBJECT: MEETING OF UNIDROIT SUB-FINANCE COMMITTEE
REF: A) STATE 68933 B) ROME 945
UNCLAS ROME 001235
SIPDIS
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME
L/PIL FOR HAL BURMAN AND JEFF KOVARS
IO/EDA FOR SHARON KOTOK AND IO/S FOR LISA JACOBSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ABUD UNIDROIT
SUBJECT: MEETING OF UNIDROIT SUB-FINANCE COMMITTEE
REF: A) STATE 68933 B) ROME 945
1. SUMMARY: THE FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE UNIFICATION OF PRIVATE
LAW (UNIDROIT) MET ON MARCH 17 TO CONSIDER PRELIMINARY
2004 BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE ORGANIZATION. GIVEN THE
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED OVER BUDGET
UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING BOTH INCOME AND EXPENDITURES, NO
REAL EFFORT WAS MADE TO FIND CONSENSUS. THE SUB-
COMMITTEE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN WHEN THE PICTURE BECOMES
CLEARER. END SUMMARY.
2. U.S. MISSION REP ATTENDED THE 3/17 MEETING. PER REF
A) GUIDANCE, U.S. MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS: OUR BUDGET
POLICY FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IS ZERO
NOMINAL GROWTH; WE RECOGNIZE THE WORK UNIDROIT IS DOING
AND CAN SUPPORT A MODEST INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE CAPETOWN CONVENTION DEPOSITARY FUNCTION
AND FOR NECESSARY INCREASES IN STAFF EXPENSES; THIS DOES
NOT REPRESENT A CHANGE IN U.S. POLICY BUT IS A ONE-TIME
RECOGNITION OF THESE HIGH-PRIORITY ITEMS; AND WE WILL NOT
SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE LEGAL COOPERATION PROGRAM BUT
INSTEAD BELIEVE THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE SUPPORTED WITH
EXTRA-BUDGETARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THOSE COUNTRIES WHO
FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT.
3. CANADA AND GERMANY JOINED THE U.S. IN SUPPORTING A
POLICY OF ZNG. SEVERAL QUESTIONS WERE RAISED AND MORE
DETAILS REQUESTED REGARDING STAFF SALARIES AND TRAVEL.
INCOME UNCERTAINTIES REVOLVE AROUND TWO ISSUES: THE
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE
POSSIBLE ACCESSION OF A NEW MEMBER (PANAMA),WHICH WOULD
BRING IN NEW MONIES. THE ITALIAN DELEGATE SAID THE GOI
CONTRIBUTION MAY BE RESOLVED AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN
UNIDROIT AND THE GOI MINISTRIES OF THE ECONOMY AND
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO BE SCHEDULED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE SYG ADDED THAT MORE SHOULD ALSO BE KNOWN IN THE NEXT
SEVERAL WEEKS ABOUT THE ACCESSION OF PANAMA.
4. GIVEN THE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL BUDGET DETAILS AND
THE UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GOI
AND PANAMA, THE SUB-COMMITTEE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN
PROBABLY IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS RATHER THAN TRYING TO
REACH CONSENSUS NOW.
HALL
NNNN
2003ROME01235 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME
L/PIL FOR HAL BURMAN AND JEFF KOVARS
IO/EDA FOR SHARON KOTOK AND IO/S FOR LISA JACOBSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ABUD UNIDROIT
SUBJECT: MEETING OF UNIDROIT SUB-FINANCE COMMITTEE
REF: A) STATE 68933 B) ROME 945
1. SUMMARY: THE FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE UNIFICATION OF PRIVATE
LAW (UNIDROIT) MET ON MARCH 17 TO CONSIDER PRELIMINARY
2004 BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE ORGANIZATION. GIVEN THE
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED OVER BUDGET
UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING BOTH INCOME AND EXPENDITURES, NO
REAL EFFORT WAS MADE TO FIND CONSENSUS. THE SUB-
COMMITTEE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN WHEN THE PICTURE BECOMES
CLEARER. END SUMMARY.
2. U.S. MISSION REP ATTENDED THE 3/17 MEETING. PER REF
A) GUIDANCE, U.S. MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS: OUR BUDGET
POLICY FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IS ZERO
NOMINAL GROWTH; WE RECOGNIZE THE WORK UNIDROIT IS DOING
AND CAN SUPPORT A MODEST INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE CAPETOWN CONVENTION DEPOSITARY FUNCTION
AND FOR NECESSARY INCREASES IN STAFF EXPENSES; THIS DOES
NOT REPRESENT A CHANGE IN U.S. POLICY BUT IS A ONE-TIME
RECOGNITION OF THESE HIGH-PRIORITY ITEMS; AND WE WILL NOT
SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE LEGAL COOPERATION PROGRAM BUT
INSTEAD BELIEVE THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE SUPPORTED WITH
EXTRA-BUDGETARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THOSE COUNTRIES WHO
FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT.
3. CANADA AND GERMANY JOINED THE U.S. IN SUPPORTING A
POLICY OF ZNG. SEVERAL QUESTIONS WERE RAISED AND MORE
DETAILS REQUESTED REGARDING STAFF SALARIES AND TRAVEL.
INCOME UNCERTAINTIES REVOLVE AROUND TWO ISSUES: THE
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE
POSSIBLE ACCESSION OF A NEW MEMBER (PANAMA),WHICH WOULD
BRING IN NEW MONIES. THE ITALIAN DELEGATE SAID THE GOI
CONTRIBUTION MAY BE RESOLVED AFTER A MEETING BETWEEN
UNIDROIT AND THE GOI MINISTRIES OF THE ECONOMY AND
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO BE SCHEDULED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THE SYG ADDED THAT MORE SHOULD ALSO BE KNOWN IN THE NEXT
SEVERAL WEEKS ABOUT THE ACCESSION OF PANAMA.
4. GIVEN THE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL BUDGET DETAILS AND
THE UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GOI
AND PANAMA, THE SUB-COMMITTEE AGREED TO MEET AGAIN
PROBABLY IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS RATHER THAN TRYING TO
REACH CONSENSUS NOW.
HALL
NNNN
2003ROME01235 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED