GUIDANCE: UN ILLICIT SA/LW TRAFFICKING RESOLUTION

UNCLAS STATE 151525

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV UNGA
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: UN ILLICIT SA/LW TRAFFICKING RESOLUTION



1. (U) This is an action request (see paras. 2 & 3).


2. (SBU) Washington has considered USDEL's request for guidance
on joining consensus on the draft resolution
regarding "The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All Its Aspects" put forward by the delegations
from Colombia, Japan, and South Africa. There are several
elements of the resolution, that if not corrected or deleted,
will prevent the United States from joining consensus. [Note:
As originally written, this guidance cable reversed the USG
position on UN Reforms that began in 2001. In 2001, it was
agreed that the USG would limit its participation in a review
conference on the Program of Action for Small Arms and Light
Weapons to one time only. In July 200'6, Deputies (Joseph,
Crouch, and Silverberg) agreed to reject a UK proposal to have
additional meetings on the Program of Action under different
titles. The agreement reached within the interagency was that
meetings under different names, e.g., biennial meeting of States
Parties, etc., in fact constitute de facto review conferences

and would be rejected. The USG voted no on this resolution last
year, precisely for this reason.]

a. (SBU) USDEL
should be alert to, and oppose, efforts to insert text that
calls for any review or biennial meetings on this subject, on
the basis that review meetings are unnecessary. Pursuant to the
US policy of opposing new mandates, in particular review
conferences, biennial meetings and the'like, if the final
text calls for review meetings of the recently concluded
Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) meeting on brokering, or for
additional meetings to consider implementation of the Program of
Action, USDEL should call for
a vote and vote no.

b. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete'PP6 as now formulated and
re-insert previously deleted language, "Reiterating the
significance of the International Instrument to Enable States
to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner,
Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons."
If the delegation is unsuccessful, USDEL should vote no.

c. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete the language as the
main framework for measures in the activities of the
international community to prevent, combat and eradicate the
illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its
aspects, beyond 2006," in PP10. If the delegation is
unsuccessful in deleting this language, USDEL should vote no.

d. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete OP4 and OP4bis. If the
delegation is unsuccessful in deleting these paragraphs, USDEL
should vote no.

e. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete the language in OP5,
"well in advance of the
next Biennial Meeting of States"; If the delegation is
unsuccessful in deleting this phrase, USDEL should vote no.
However, if the delegation is successful, then the delegation
should seek to add the phrase "and to 'highlight their
implementation challenges and opportunities" (which would then
be deleted from the end of OP7) to the end of OP5.

f. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete OP7 in its entirety
except for the clause noted in the guidance paragraph above. If
the delegation is unsuccessful, USDEL should vote no.

g. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete OP8. If the delegation
is unsuccessful, USDEL should vote no.

h. (SBU) USDEL should work to delete OP14. If the delegation
is unsuccessful, USDEL should vote no.

Washington considers these points to be red
lines.


3. (SBU) USDEL should propose the following language
modifications to improve the text of this resolution.
USDEL is instructed to join consensus regardless of
acceptance of these modifications, assuming the text does
not cross any of the red lines above:

a. Delete the phrase in PP2 "and full" before
"implementation" as the phrase makes the statement too
broad;

b. Modify the language in PP7 from "that the international
community should address urgently" to 'that each State and
Region should address urgently";

c. Modify the language in PP8 to "Emphasizing the
importance of comprehensive national reporting on
implementation of the Programme of Action with a view to
facilitating international cooperation and the rendering
of assistance where such assistance is needed";

d. Modify OP1 to read "Encourages relevant initiatives,
including those of the United Nations, other international
organizations, and regional and subregional organizations
for the successful implementation . . ; " All initiatives
are not relevant or helpful, and there, is questionable
value in soliciting initiatives from NGOs and "civil
society" in general;

e. Delete the phrase in OP2, "among others," as it does
not make sense in this context;

f. Modify the language in OP9 to conclude with "where
appropriate".


4. (U) Questions arding the subject of brokering shouldould
be directed to Deborah Carroll, PM/DDTC, at (202) 663-2809.
663-2809. All other questions can be coordinated through
Michael Williams, PM/WRA, at (202) 663-0287. Department
thanks USDEL for its assistance and hard work in attending
to the formulation of this resolution.
RICE