NEW ZEALAND SUPPORTS AVM CONVENTION

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000843 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR L (BETTAUER),IO/UNP AND EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PARM PREL NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND SUPPORTS AVM CONVENTION REF: STATE 168629 ¶1. (SBU) PE Couns shared reftel demarche on the 2006 Convention on Conventional Weapons Review Conference with Caroline McDonald, Director of the Disarmament Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). McDonald said that New Zealand is supportive of a strong, legally-binding protocol on Anti-Vehicle Mines, and would study our points carefully. ¶2. (SBU) McDonald also sent PE Couns a copy of New Zealand's statement at the thematic debate on conventional weapons at the UNGA 61 First Committee. The statement says New Zealand would welcome the conclusion of an instrument on mines other than anti-personnel mines, if a legally binding text could be agreed that made a credible improvement on existing humanitarian law provisions. The statement says that GNZ "does not see that this requirement could be satisfied by the conclusion of a text which carried optional provisions on the key issues of detectability and active life." McCormick