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