DEMARCHE RE ROAD SAFETY

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000685 SIPDIS STATE PASS IO/T FOR JANE COWLEY AND/OR FRANK OSTRANDER; STATE ALSO FOR EUR/UBI FOR S. HOLLIDAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC NL UN ELNT WHO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RE ROAD SAFETY REF: STATE 55662 ¶1. PER (REFTEL) REQUEST, DEMARCHE AND SUPPORTING TALKING POINTS REGARDING RETAINING THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (ECE) AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR UN ROAD SAFETY ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO DUTCH MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (MOT) WITH A COPY TO MFA MARCH ¶17. IN AN INITIAL REACTION OUR MOT INTERLOCUTOR SAID THAT THE DUTCH A) APPLAUD THE GLOBAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY AND REDUCING THE TRAFFIC-CRASH RELATED ECONOMIC IMPACT; B) SEE THE UNECE'S WORKING PARTY.1 (WP.1) AS THE APPROPRIATE UN BODY TO ACT AS FOCAL POINT FOR ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY EFFORTS; C) RECOGNIZE UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT IMPACT OF ADDITIONAL WP.1 TASK ON CURRENT MANDATE FOCUSED ON VIENNA TREATIES; D) RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR REFORMULATING THE MANDATE OF WP.1 TO REFLECT ITS GROWING GLOBAL ROLE; E) INSIST THAT ADDITIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY TASKS FOR WP.1 NOT LEAD TO DETERIORATION OF ITS CURRENT MANDATE F) WILL SUPPORT THE U.S. POSITION VIS-A-VIS SELECTION OF WP.1 AS THE ROAD SAFETY FOCAL POINT IN THE UNGA SESSION APRIL 14. ¶2. DUTCH PLAN TO ATTEND APRIL7 AND APRIL 14 EVENTS. OFFICIAL WRITTEN COMMENTS TO OUR DEMARCHE WILL BE FORWARDED WEEK OF MARCH 22. DUTCH REACTIONS WILL BE PASSED AS SOON AS RECEIVED BY POST. (DRAFT:ECON:JRAZOUXSCHULTZ) RUSSEL