1.
5 (b and d)



1. (C) Summary: PolOff delievered reftel demarche on the 58th
UNGA First Committee to Peter Potman, MFA Deputy Head of
Nuclear Affairs and Non-Proliferation Division on October 20.
Potman said the draft resolution and accompanying U.S.
points were extensively discussed last week in New York, and
there is little difference between the U.S. and Dutch
positions. However, he said many EU countries see problems
with the first preambulatory paragraph of the draft
resolution, which specifically ties the exercise to September
11, and therefore ignores the presence of non-U.S. national
security issues in existence prior to September 11.
According to Potman, the Dutch were also concerned with what
he described as a letter from the U.S. Mission to the UN
purportedly suggesting the U.S. would have little use for the
First Committee if it did not improve. Potman cited the
necessity for the UN to act as a forum for different ideas to
be considered regardless of agreement. End Summary.



2. (C) PolOff delievered reftel demarche on the 58th UNGA
First Committee to Peter Potman, MFA Deputy Head of Nuclear
Affairs and Non-Proliferation Division on October 20. Potman
said the draft resolution and accompanying U.S. points were
extensively discussed last week in New York, and there is
little difference between the U.S. and Dutch positions. He
hopes to get a read-out from the Dutch delegation by the end
of this week on the New York meetings, but reiterated Dutch
share U.S. concerns about the First Committee and support
efforts to reinvigorate it. Personally, Potman said he found
Point C of the U.S. paper circulated in the First Committee
to be interesting, but also foresees political problems with
this regional approach. He thinks the gist of the resolution
is "fully acceptable," and there will be large support from
the EU. Potman cautioned however that he is unaware if the
support will result in a consensus, as he has yet to confer
with the Dutch delegation in New York.



3. (C) Potman said many EU countries have problems with the
first preambulatory paragraph of the draft resolution, which
specifically ties the exercise to September 11. Many EU
members see it as a broader issue concerning security issues,
which existed prior to Septemebr 11, and therefore do not
feel the language of the first preambualtory paragraph is
"appropriate." He again stated that determination of support
for the resolution is decided in New York, but "anything that
will increase the effectiveness of the First Committee will
have the Netherlands' blessing." Potman raised an issue not
directly in the U.S. paper, but of concern to the Dutch.
According to Potman, the Dutch were also concerned with what
he described as a letter from the U.S. Mission to the UN
purportedly suggesting the U.S. would have little use for the
First Committee if it did not improve. Potman said the UNGA
and its First Committee is the "marketplace for ideas." While
we may not always agree, and the price paid is sometimes a
lengthier path to solution, the Dutch believe the UN is
precisely where divergent views should be taken into
consideration.

SOBEL