Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE2712
2004-10-20 12:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

NETHERLANDS/EU/UNGA: DUTCH PLANS FOR UN WORKING

Tags:  PREL AORC NL UNGA 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002712 

SIPDIS

USUN FOR STOFER, REPASCH, ATWOOL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2014
TAGS: PREL AORC NL UNGA
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/UNGA: DUTCH PLANS FOR UN WORKING
GROUP OCTOBER 25

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002712

SIPDIS

USUN FOR STOFER, REPASCH, ATWOOL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2014
TAGS: PREL AORC NL UNGA
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/UNGA: DUTCH PLANS FOR UN WORKING
GROUP OCTOBER 25

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UN Funding, UN security, and the 2005
"Major Event" will dominate the EU's UN Working Group (CONUN)
meeting on October 25, according to its chair, Karel van
Kesteren. Other issues on the agenda include a discussion of
regional groupings, the social dimension of globalization,
the SIDS conference, and WSIS. Please see guidance request
at paragraph four. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In a meeting with Poloff on October 19, Karel van
Kesteren, head of the Dutch MFA's Department of International
Organization Affairs and current chair of the EU's UN Working
Group (CONUN),briefly discussed the agenda for the October
25 CONUN meeting. Items to be discussed include:


3. (C) The 2005 Major Event: The EU is discussing how best
to implement the so-called millennium development goals and
the Millennium Declaration. During the Dutch presidency of
the EU, according to van Kesteren, the economic counselor at
the Dutch mission in New York will be the main focal point
for coordinating EU guidance on this event.


4. (C) Security/Safety of UN Staff: Van Kesteren referred
to the SYG's report and said the sticking point is money and
who will pay the expected USD 100 million bill. He asked for
clarification of the USG preferences for financing security
operations for UN staff, i.e., would we prefer a) centralized
financial administration for all UN security operations, or
b) control at the level of the operation where costs are
shared among those member states involved? (Post would
appreciate guidance on how to respond to these questions.)


5. (C) Financing of the multilateral system: Van Kesteren
said he added this point to the agenda to encourage
reflection and discussion on "the chaotic state of UN
financing," looking at the nexus between assessed and
voluntary contributions across all agencies. The objective,
he said, is to find ways to make funding "more rational." He
added that the CONUN should explore how the UN can free
itself from the excessive influence of earmarked donations
supporting member states' favorite causes, especially when
these do not appear rational in the context of the UN's
larger picture.


6. (C) Heads of UN Organizations, candidatures: Van
Kesteren said the EU still had no new names for a successor
to UNRWA's Hansen and he will raise the issue again.


7. (C) Discussion of regional groups: Van Kesteren said
this topic is the initiative of the EU Commission, which
wants to discuss the problems that arise from the fact that
some EU member states are WEOG members and others are Eastern
European Group members, notably in cases where regional
groups are used, e.g., in the area of environmental treaties,
to coordinate substantive positions.


8. (SBU) Other Issues: Van Kesteren expected cursory
review of the remaining agenda items, which include reception
of the report on the social dimension of globalization, the
SIDS Conference, and WSIS.
SOBEL