AUSTRALIA: PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE REPORT OF THE

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000331 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KUNR AS UNSC UNGA SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA: PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE REPORT OF THE UN HIGH LEVEL PANEL ON THREATS, CHALLENGES, AND CHANGE REF: STATE 21394 ¶1. (U) Please see action request in para 3. ¶2. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche to relevant Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) IO staff on February 10 and discussed matters contained therein at a February 18 follow up call with UN Executive Officer Lara Nassau. Nassau emphasized DFAT's appreciation for reftel papers and talking points but noted that the GOA had not yet formulated its response to the Report of the UN Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change. She perceived "a lot of common ground," however, in the U.S. and "not-yet-finalized GOA positions, particularly on the use of force." Nassau also saw in the Report's proposal for Security Council (UNSC) reform, Option A, an opportunity for the GOA to advance its long-standing call for the expansion of the UNSC to include Japan, India, Brazil, and African country and possibly Indonesia, without the extension of the veto. ¶3. (SBU) Switching to the reform of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Nassau requested papers articulating the rationale behind the USG position on the possible universalization of the Commission and related reform issues (reftel, para 1). She also noted that the timely receipt of these papers would be a great help to the GOA as it develops its own positions during the next few weeks. STANTON