UNIDROIT REQUEST FOR VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

UNCLAS ROME 000261

SIPDIS

L/PIL FOR HAL BURMAN AND JEFF KOVARS; IO/EDA
IO/S FOR LISA JACOBSON

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ABUD IT UNIDROIT
SUBJECT: UNIDROIT REQUEST FOR VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

REF: ROME 06012


1. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. THE ROME-BASED
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE UNIFICATION OF
INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE LAW (UNIDROIT) HAS REQUESTED MEMBER
GOVERNMENTS TO CONSIDER MAKING A ONE-TIME VOLUNTARY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00261 221549Z
CONTRIBUTION TO ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO FULFILL ITS
DEPOSITARY FUNCTIONS FOR THE CAPETOWN CONVENTION IN 2003.
IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONVENTION TO U.S.
AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT INTERESTS, MISSION URGES FAVORABLE
CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST. END SUMMARY.


2. UNIDROIT'S 56TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (REFTEL) ADOPTED A
RESOLUTION INVITING GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE ONE-TIME
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENABLE UNIDROIT TO CARRY OUT
THE DEPOSITARY FUNCTIONS CONFERRED UPON IT UNDER THE
CAPETOWN CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS IN MOBILE
EQUIPMENT AND THE PROTOCOL ON MATTERS SPECIFIC TO
AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT (TEXT FAXED TO L/PIL HAROLD BURMAN)
UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE REGULAR BUDGET PROVIDES SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES.


3. THE ADDITIONAL COSTS, AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED FOR THE
2003 BUDGET, ARE ESTIMATED AT 73,000 EUROS FOR AN
ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER AND 25,000 EUROS FOR SOFTWARE.
(COMMENT: THE CAPETOWN CONVENTION HAS AN UNUSUALLY
COMPLEX SYSTEM OF DECLARATIONS (NO FEWER THAN 36 FROM
WHICH STATES MAY PICK AND CHOOSE),THUS COMPLICATING THE
TRADITIONAL DEPOSITARY FUNCTIONS OF NOTIFICATION AND
REPORTING. END COMMENT).


4. AS REPORTED IN REFTELS, UNIDROIT MEMBERS WERE NOT IN
A POSITION TO ADOPT A 2003 BUDGET WHICH INCLUDED THE
ADDITIONAL COSTS OF SERVING AS DEPOSITARY. MEMBERS DID,
HOWEVER, AGREE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FUNCTION. A
NUMBER OF MEMBERS STATED THAT THEIR GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE
IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST IN THE 2004 BUDGET.
UNCLASSIFIED

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IN THE MEANTIME, IN LINE WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION, UNIDROIT HAS REQUESTED MEMBER GOVERNMENTS TO
GIVE FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION TO A CONTRIBUTION FOR 2003
TO ENABLE THE ORGANIZATION TO CARRY OUT ITS DEPOSITARY
FUNCTIONS.


5. IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONVENTION TO U.S.
AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT INTERESTS, MISSION URGES FAVORABLE
CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST. HALL

UNCLASSIFIED

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2003ROME00261 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED