UK SHARES USG PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY OF

UNCLAS LONDON 003674 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G/FERRAO AND DRL/MLGA - PAZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL UK UNGA SUBJECT: UK SHARES USG PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES REF: STATE 129764 ¶1. (SBU) The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office generally shares U.S. priorities for the upcoming Community of Democracies ministerial meeting (ref),but is still reviewing its position on a CD Secretariat, according to Nick Abbott, of the Foreign Office's Democracy and Human Rights Office. Abbott told Poloff on September 24 that the UK agrees, in particular, with the U.S. emphasis on the importance of NGOs and other civil society organizations in building democratic societies. Abbott expected that will be a theme of the UK intervention at the Ministerial meeting. Abbott also welcomed the U.S. effort to encourage contributions to the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF),noting that the UK is a contributor to the UNDEF and is also encouraging other governments to pledge funds to the UNDEF. ¶2. (SBU) Abbott said it had not yet been decided who would participate for HMG at the October 1 CD meeting on the UNGA margins, but he anticipated it would be Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Asia, and the UN. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm LeBaron