GOA SUPPORTS UN DEMOCRACY FUND, SEEKS SEAT ON BOARD

UNCLAS CANBERRA 001270

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KUNR AS UNSC UNGA ECOSOC KPKP
SUBJECT: GOA SUPPORTS UN DEMOCRACY FUND, SEEKS SEAT ON BOARD

REF: A. STATE 133778


B. MATTEI/LUCAS FAX OF 7/28/05


1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified. Protect Accordingly.


2. (SBU) We delivered ref A demarche on July 21 to
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) United Nations
and Commonwealth Director Nicholas Turner, and at a July 28
follow up discussion with AusAid Acting Assistant Director
General Neil McFarlane. McFarlane responded that Australia
would soon determine its level of support for the UN
Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and hoped it would be enough gain one
of the six UNDEF Advisory Board seats reserved for large
donors. McFarlane added, however, that Australia would not
join a "bidding war" for a seat. Its fallback would be to
seek a "regional seat" on the Board if the GOA were not among
the six largest donors. McFarlane argued that Australia
would bring much to the Board due to its experience promoting
democracy and good governance in the Asia-Pacific region and
beyond (ref B).


3. (SBU) Turner and McFarlane expressed a strong desire to
cooperate with the U.S. on UNDEF and other High Level Event
(HLE) business. In particular, Turner said that DFAT
officials were troubled by the current language on
development goals and wanted to work with the USG to "rescue
the HLE Outcomes Document from the morass it has fallen
into."
STANTON