Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK1985
2006-10-17 14:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:
COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP -
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 PP RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #1985 2901422 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 171422Z OCT 06 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0481 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 1220 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0201 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0886
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001985
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNGA
SUBJECT: COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP -
RECRUITING ITALY
REF: USUN 1974
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001985
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNGA
SUBJECT: COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP -
RECRUITING ITALY
REF: USUN 1974
1. Action request, para 5.
2. For the past two years Danish Permanent Representative,
Ellen Loj has energetically chaired the UN Counter-Terrorism
Committee (CTC),a subsidiary body of the Security Council.
When Denmark's term as a non-permanent member of the Council
ends on December 31, she will vacate the CTC chair. New
members of the Council will include Belgium, Italy, South
Africa, Guatemala or Venezuela and Indonesia. Some of these
are not well suited to assume the leadership of the
Committee, either for political reasons or because their UN
Mission lacks the capacity to assume the extra burden of
steering the Committee's work.
3. The European candidates elected on October 16 are Belgium
and Italy. Both have been preparing to join the Council on
January 1 and have terrorism experts on their staffs ready to
take on their CT portfolios. When the subject of chairing
the Committee has been broached, however, neither delegation
has shown much enthusiasm for assuming the task but neither
has said no.
4. Italy is probably the best prospect from a U.S.
perspective. A G-8 member and strong U.S. ally in combating
terrorism, they share our views and have cooperated closely
with the U.S. at the UN on CT issues. Their Mission is well
staffed, professional and respected. The Belgium Mission,
although headed by a strong and impressive Permanent
Representative, has not been actively involved on CT issues
in the past. CTED chairman, Ambassador Ruperez gave his
assessment to us October 12 (Reftel) and shared our view that
Italy would prove a strong effective chair. Comment: It has
been the custom of the P5 to propose Chairmen for the CTC,
Sanctions Committees and other SC subcommittees. Previously,
the CTC has been chaired by the U.K., Russia and Spain.
Informally, the Russian, French and U.K. Missions have
indicated that they would support an Italian Chairmanship.
Chinese and French views are not yet known. End Comment.
5. Action Request: USUN recommends that the Dept ask
Embassy Rome to press the Italians to give serious
consideration to serving as Chairman of the CTC. Although
the Italian Mission has not expressed enthusiasm for chairing
the Committee, we believe that a bilateral approach at a high
level underscoring the CTC's importance, the qualifications
the Italians bring, and the significance we attach to Italy's
chairing this important Committee could lead the Mission here
to reconsider.
BOLTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER UNGA
SUBJECT: COUNTER-TERRORISM COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP -
RECRUITING ITALY
REF: USUN 1974
1. Action request, para 5.
2. For the past two years Danish Permanent Representative,
Ellen Loj has energetically chaired the UN Counter-Terrorism
Committee (CTC),a subsidiary body of the Security Council.
When Denmark's term as a non-permanent member of the Council
ends on December 31, she will vacate the CTC chair. New
members of the Council will include Belgium, Italy, South
Africa, Guatemala or Venezuela and Indonesia. Some of these
are not well suited to assume the leadership of the
Committee, either for political reasons or because their UN
Mission lacks the capacity to assume the extra burden of
steering the Committee's work.
3. The European candidates elected on October 16 are Belgium
and Italy. Both have been preparing to join the Council on
January 1 and have terrorism experts on their staffs ready to
take on their CT portfolios. When the subject of chairing
the Committee has been broached, however, neither delegation
has shown much enthusiasm for assuming the task but neither
has said no.
4. Italy is probably the best prospect from a U.S.
perspective. A G-8 member and strong U.S. ally in combating
terrorism, they share our views and have cooperated closely
with the U.S. at the UN on CT issues. Their Mission is well
staffed, professional and respected. The Belgium Mission,
although headed by a strong and impressive Permanent
Representative, has not been actively involved on CT issues
in the past. CTED chairman, Ambassador Ruperez gave his
assessment to us October 12 (Reftel) and shared our view that
Italy would prove a strong effective chair. Comment: It has
been the custom of the P5 to propose Chairmen for the CTC,
Sanctions Committees and other SC subcommittees. Previously,
the CTC has been chaired by the U.K., Russia and Spain.
Informally, the Russian, French and U.K. Missions have
indicated that they would support an Italian Chairmanship.
Chinese and French views are not yet known. End Comment.
5. Action Request: USUN recommends that the Dept ask
Embassy Rome to press the Italians to give serious
consideration to serving as Chairman of the CTC. Although
the Italian Mission has not expressed enthusiasm for chairing
the Committee, we believe that a bilateral approach at a high
level underscoring the CTC's importance, the qualifications
the Italians bring, and the significance we attach to Italy's
chairing this important Committee could lead the Mission here
to reconsider.
BOLTON