UNGA: INSTRUCTIONS TO CALL FOR VOTE ON PARAGRAPH

UNCLAS STATE 163387

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UN SENV ECON
SUBJECT: UNGA: INSTRUCTIONS TO CALL FOR VOTE ON PARAGRAPH
17 OF RESOLUTION ON UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION



1. Mission is instructed to call for a vote and vote "no" on
operational paragraph 17 of agenda item 54(e) Sustainable
Development: Implementation of the United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa, and to deliver the EOV contained in paragraph 2 prior
to the vote on this paragraph.


2. Begin text of EOV. The United States has called for a
vote and will vote "no" on OP 17 because we are disappointed
by the continued diversion of resources from the UN regular
budget to subsidize independent and self-sustaining treaty
bodies and conventions such as the United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa (UNCCD). As a matter of principle, treaty bodies and
conventions can and should collect the necessary funds from
their membership to finance their activities. We support the
objectives of the UNCCD, and will continue to do so through
our voluntary contributions to the convention. End of text
of EOV.


3. Regardless of the outcome of the vote on operational
paragraph 17, Mission is instructed to join consensus on the
resulting resolution.
RICE