CROATIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON UNDC

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000366

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PARM PREL HR UNDC CDG
SUBJECT: CROATIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON UNDC

REF: STATE 39091


1. POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL TO DRAZEN HRASTIC, HEAD OF THE
COOPERATIVE SECURITY AND ARMS CONTROL AT THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ON FEBRUARY 25. ON FEBRUARY 27, HRASTIC
PROVIDED US WITH THE NON-PAPER RESPONSE IN PARA 2 SUPPORTING
THE U.S. POSITION. HRASTIC SAID THAT THE CROATIAN MISSION TO
THE UN HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SUPPORT THE U.S. POSITION USING
THE SAME NON-PAPER.


2. BEGIN TEXT CROATIA NON-PAPER:


A. CROATIA IS FOLLOWING WITH MARKED INTEREST MANY EXISTING
PROPOSALS FOR ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND STREAMLINING
THE WORK OF UNITED NATIONS DISARMAMENT BODIES, INCLUDING THE
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,S FIRST COMMITTEE, THE CONFERENCE ON
DISARMAMENT IN GENEVA AS WELL AS THE UNITED NATIONS
DISARMAMENT COMMISSION.


B. CROATIA WAS AMONG THE CO-SPONSORS OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION 58/41 ON THE REFORM OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE.


C. WITH REGARD TO THE UN DISARMAMENT COMMISSION (UNDC),
CROATIA HAS GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO PROPOSALS ON
REFORM OF AND STRENGTHENING THE WORKING METHODS OF THE UNDC,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW SECURITY THREATS OF THE 2LST
CENTURY. CROATIA ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE WORK OF THE
UNDC, GIVEN ITS ROLE AS A UNIVERSAL MULTILATERAL BODY IN THE
FIELD OF DISARMAMENT.


D. CROATIA EXPRESSED ITS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE UNDC,S
FAILURE TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS AT ITS MEETING IN 2003. CROATIA
REGRETS THAT THE REASONS WHICH LED TO THIS FAILURE HAVE NOT
YET BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.


E. CROATIA IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN
CONSULTATIONS ON CONFIRMING TWO AGENDA ITEMS FOR THIS YEAR,S
SESSION OF THE UNDC, IN LINE WITH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION 58/67.


F. GIVEN THE OPPOSING VIEWS ON WHICH ITEMS SHOULD BE
INCLUDED ON THE UNDC AGENDA, CROATIA CAN IN PRINCIPLE SUPPORT
THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE NON-PAPER PRESENTED BY THE
DELEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES ON DEVOTING THIS YEAR,S
SESSION OF THE UNDC TO AN APPRAISAL OF THE UNUC ITSELF.
CROATIA REMAINS HOPEFUL THAT THIS PROPOSAL CAN GAIN
CONSENSUAL SUPPORT IN THE UNDC.


G. CROATIA WELCOMES ALL PROPOSALS WHICH AIM TO FACILITATE
THE WORK OF THE UNDC. CROATIA BELIEVES THAT FAILURE TO ATTAIN
AGREEMENT ON AN AGENDA FOR THE UNDC IN 2004 WILL HAVE A
NEGATIVE IMPACT NOT ONLY FOR THE FUTURE WORK OF THE UNDC, BUT
ALSO OTHER UNITED NATIONS DISARMAMENT BODIES.


H. CROATIA SHALL CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN
PURSUING AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION TO THESE ABOVE MENTIONED
QUESTIONS. END TEXT NON-PAPER.
FRANK

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