ITALIAN UNSC ENLARGEMENT PROPOSAL

UNCLAS HANOI 001176

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STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND IO/P

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IT VM UNSC
SUBJECT: ITALIAN UNSC ENLARGEMENT PROPOSAL



1. This is an action request. See paragraph 9.


2. (SBU) Summary: The Italian Ambassador to Vietnam called
together diplomats from 20 other countries to describe the
two plans for United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
enlargement espoused by the "Coffee Club." He also noted
that Italy had proposed yet another version for discussion
on May 2 in New York. He called for a joint demarche to
sway Vietnam from its current support of the enlargement
plan endorsed by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi
Annan. End Summary.


3. (SBU) On May 18 Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Alfredo
Matacotta Cordella hosted representatives of 20 other United
Nations member countries to describe proposals of the
"Coffee Club" on Security Council Enlargement. Other
attendees represented Algeria, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Finland, the Republic of
Korea, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, the
Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand,
Ukraine and the United States, which ECON/C represented.


4. (SBU) Ambassador Cordella began by stating that Rome had
instructed him to call the meeting to present its views on
the various models for UNSC enlargement currently under
discussion. He noted that the model espoused by UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan would create six new permanent

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members of the security council: Japan, Germany, India,
Brazil and two others. Cordella called this option
undemocratic and criticized the creation of three classes of
members, permanent members with vetoes, permanent members
without vetoes and ordinary members.


5. (SBU) The "Coffee Club" of 15 was currently considering
two models, called the "blue" and "green" models, which
would create 10 additional Security Council members to be
distributed regionally. While none of these additional
members would be permanent, they would be allowed to serve
more than one term, Cordella noted. He added that the
newest development was a proposal of yet another regional
model by Italy's permanent representative to the United
Nations in a May 2 speech in New York. He provided a copy
of the speech and the newest proposal (faxed back to
EAP/BCLTV). He remarked that Italy supports a permanent
seat for a representative from the European Union, but has
not been able to convince either France or Britain to cede
its seat.


6. (SBU) The Italian Ambassador explained that the reason
for the meeting in Hanoi was to convince Vietnam to shift
its current position from support of the Kofi Annan model to
one of those proposed by the "Coffee Club." He concluded by
asking all attendees to check with their capitals to
determine whether they could join a joint demarche to urge
Vietnam to shift its position. He asked for replies by the
end of May, but noted that the Embassy of Italy would meet
with the Foreign Ministry later that day to describe the
various models.


7. (SBU) In the brief discussion that followed, Spain's
Ambassador expressed support for the Italian idea of a joint
demarche. Algeria's Ambassador said that he shared the
Italian view, but would need to check with his capital.
Finally, Italy's Ambassador acknowledged unabashedly that
the purpose of the intense Italian engagement on this issue
was to prevent Japan and Germany from getting permanent
seats on the Security Council.


8. (SBU) After the meeting, the Australian and Canadian
representatives privately expressed skepticism to ECON/C
about the various models presented as well as the Italian
proposal for a joint demarche.


9. Post requests guidance on how to respond to the Italian
proposal.

BOARDMAN


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