DEMARCHE DELIVERED: NAM/G-77 ON UN REFORM

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003302 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AORC UN SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: NAM/G-77 ON UN REFORM REF: STATE 83898 ¶1. (U) On May 25, 2006 Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Phasporn Sangasubana, Director of Administrative Affairs Division of the International Organization Bureau of the Thai MFA. On May 31, Phasporn returned an official response to the U.S. points. Generally Disappointed -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Phasporn noted that Thailand is "disappointed" at the rate of progress of the management reform in New York. Referring to differences separating developing and developed nations, she said that the UN should take into account each country's political views during negotiations. ¶3. (SBU) Phasporn said that Thailand is "disappointed with the U.S." in attempting to connect the allocation of budget to the reform program. She suggested that the U.S. strategy is "not productive," and it is "not an appropriate way" to approach the management reforms. Specific Comments Points of Concern -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Phasporn suggested that, while understanding our wish to set a goal date at the end of June, Thailand sees such a deadline as "unproductive," in light of the ongoing deadlock. ¶5. (SBU) Thailand supports most of the short term agendas on "Modernizing the Secretariat" and "Improving Oversight, Accountability and Governance" as listed in the talking points. Phasporn noted that all of these agenda are already on the negotiation table, and expressed her opinion that consensus on some of these issues could be achieved "without a deadline." The sole exception to this concerns the "discretionary authority for the Secretary-General over some budget decisions." Characterized as one of the "deadlock points," she stated that, in order to achieve consensus, accountability should not be defined but be discussed with the discretionary authority issue "hand-in-hand." ¶6. (SBU) On "Reviewing Mandates," Thailand agrees with all demarche points except for "improving implementation of ineffective mandates." Phasporn noted that there are still a number of countries who have not implemented the mandate themselves and emphasized the need to sort this out first. ¶7. (SBU) Phasporn stressed that Thailand supports the U.S. effort to have a "consenus-based solution." Yet, she also suggested that, due to teh present deadlock, it might be wise to prepare for a roll-call vote. BOYCE