NEW ZEALAND'S VIEWS ON WORLD HUNGER SUMMIT

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000798

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB AND EAP/ANP

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN ECON PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S VIEWS ON WORLD HUNGER SUMMIT

REF: STATE 197337


1. Post on September 16 delivered reftel demarche regarding
the World Leaders Meeting on Action Against Hunger and
Poverty to Phillip Taula of the New Zealand Agency for
International Development (NZAID). The demarche shared U.S.
concerns about a draft declaration and a technical paper
released by the summit's sponsors.


2. Taula said that, although the New Zealand government
still is considering its position ahead of the meeting, it
shares a number of the United States' concerns, including
the papers' lack of a balanced view of development and the
lack of other important aspects embodied in the Monterrey
Consensus.


3. The New Zealand government has not studied the technical
report in detail, although it does not have problems with
its general language. Taula said New Zealand was taking a
cautious approach to the U.K.-proposed International Finance
Facility. Before taking a position, it is awaiting
additional information, particularly the results of World
Bank studies.


4. New Zealand will be represented at the summit by its
permanent representative to the UN, Don McKay.

Burnett