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