Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK1350
2006-07-12 20:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

TERRORISM - CO-CHAIRMEN DISCUSS UN

Tags:  PREL PTER UNGA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1350/01 1932038
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122038Z JUL 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9581
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001350 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNGA
SUBJECT: TERRORISM - CO-CHAIRMEN DISCUSS UN
COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY

REF: USUN 01297

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001350

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNGA
SUBJECT: TERRORISM - CO-CHAIRMEN DISCUSS UN
COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY

REF: USUN 01297


1. Action request para 6.


2. Summary. The Co-Chairmen of the informal consultations
on the UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy plan to produce a third
draft of the strategy before the end of July and convene the
next round of discussions during the week of August 21.
Prior to completing the next draft they are meeting
bilaterally with delegations to gauge the viability of
compromise language that might be included in the text. The
Co-Chairmen suggested inclusion of references from the 1994
UN Declaration on Terrorism which they hoped would make the
text more acceptable to some delegations. They also
presented new language on the Egyptian conference proposal
and on the process for reviewing the strategy. End Summary.


3. USUN Legal Adviser met, July 11, with the Co-Chairmen,
Ambassadors Yanez-Barnueva (Spain) and Menon (Singapore) to
discuss the state of negotiations of the counter-terrorism
strategy. The Co-Chairmen expressed surprise that the second
draft of the strategy, which had been discussed during
informal consultations on July 28 and 30 (reftel),drew more
criticism than the first draft. They said they were
considering various ways to respond to objections expressed
during discussions, specifically points by Organization of
the Islamic Conference members regarding state-terrorism and
Egypt's call for a high level conference. They also focused
on follow-up at UNGA subsequent sessions. Yanez expressed
the hope that if the strategy is by the end of August
completed, it might be adopted at a high level segment during
"ministerial week" of the upcoming General Assembly.


4. Having outlined the Co-Chairmen's plan, Yanez presented
the following specific proposals and asked that the US
provide reactions within the next week:

- Amend preambular paragraph 7 to add a specific reference
to UNGA resolution 46/51. The paragraph would read:
"Recalling further all General Assembly resolutions on
measures to eliminate international terrorism, including
resolution 46/51, and Security Council resolutions on threats
to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts,
as well as relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on
the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while
countering terrorism".

(Resolution 46/51, adopted without a vote in 1991 contains
language (op 15) that indicates that nothing in the
resolution could prejudice the right of peoples under
colonial and racist regimes or other forms of alien
domination to struggle for self-determination and
independence. The Co-Chairmen point out that resolution
46/51 was also recalled in preambular para 1 of Resolution
49/60, the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate
International Terrorism.)

- State Terrorism. The Co-Chairmen would also like to borrow
language from the 1994 Declaration to deal with the issue of
state terrorism. They point to preambular paragraph 4 of the
Declaration, adopted by consensus, which says: "Deeply
disturbed by the world-wide persistence of acts of
international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,
including those in which States are directly or indirectly
involved, which endanger or take innocent lives, have a
deleterious effect on international relations and may
jeopardize the security of States."

- High Level Conference - The Co-Chairmen are seeking to win
over the Egyptians (highly vocal in their criticism of the
text) by showing movement toward convening the high level
conference that the Egyptians have proposed. They are
suggesting: "Having considered the question of a high level
conference on terrorism and acknowledging that such a
conference, at an appropriate time, could contribute...".

(USUN/Legal Adviser noted that consideration of the
conference proposal had produced no agreement in the Sixth
Committee and many delegations, including the US, link the
conference issue to completion of the Comprehensive
Convention Against International Terrorism (CCIT). That
linkage is not apparent in the proposal which implies that
the issue of convening a conference is not if, but when.)

- Strategy review - Noting U.S. concerns about the proposed
review, Yanez suggested softening the language in the current
op 3 (a) to read, "to examine in two years progress made and
to consider updating it to respond to evolving changes".

In response to the question of whether this examination would
take place in the Sixth Committee under the existing item on
terrorism or under a new item as envisioned in op 4 of the
draft, the Co-Chairmen said they planned to retain op 4.




5. USUN Legal Adviser noted that the issues discussed did
not cover all of our fundamental concerns and reminded the
Co-Chairmen to refer to the written comments previously
passed to them by the U.S. delegation.


6. Action request: Post requests Washington guidance on
Co-Chairmen's proposals by COB. July 17.
BOLTON