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