UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENT: DEMARCHE TO EUROPEAN UNION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001725 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KUNR UNGA SUBJECT: UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENT: DEMARCHE TO EUROPEAN UNION ON SCALE METHODOLOGY REF: USUN 00452 This cable contains an action request. ¶1. In advance of the 61st UN General Assembly, USUN has learned that a Fifth Committee formal session for the introduction of national positions on the scale of assessment may be scheduled for as early as October 9th. USUN has also learned that the European Union is attempting to reach a group position on the scale methodology by the end of September (reftel). Taking into account the EU's proposal last March in the Fifth Committee in which the group made no accommodation for a ceiling in its proposed scale methodology, as well as the United Kingdom proposal in the Committee on Contributions in June which sought illustrative scales with ceiling levels set at both 22 per cent and 25 per cent, USUN requests the Department to demarche EU capitals at the highest appropriate level and at the earliest possible date. ¶2. Begin talking points: -- The United States looks forward to discussing the U.S. approach to scale in the coming months and we welcome the approaches made in New York in recent months by Finland, on behalf of the European Union presidency -- We look forward to working constructively with the European Union in advance of and throughout this fall's scale deliberations on a mutually acceptable approach to the methodology. -- However, in light of European Union proposal in the General Assembly's Fifth Committee last March which omitted any provision for a ceiling, as well as the UK request for information in the Committee on Contributions for an illustrative scale with a 25 per cent ceiling, we remain concerned that the EU is considering seriously a methodology that would raise or even eliminate the current 22 per cent ceiling. -- The ceiling, at its current level, is a critical element of the methodology and is deemed an essential component of a scale methodology by the United States for a consensus outcome on the scale deliberation. -- Any increase to or elimination of the ceiling will be negatively perceived by the United States as a reason to vote on the scale of assessment. ¶3. End talking points. BOLTON