GUIDANCE REQUEST: UN REQUEST FOR U.S. PAYMENT FOR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000274 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP PREL UNGA SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST: UN REQUEST FOR U.S. PAYMENT FOR THE NPT CONFERENCE REF: USUN 00176 ¶1. GUIDANCE REQUEST: Per reftel, USUN is transmitting below a March 30 letter from UN Controller Warren Sach to Ambassador Mark Wallace requesting the Mission's assistance in obtaining a payment from the United States for the 2005 NPT Review Conference and the first session on the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Department of Disarmament Affairs (DDA) officials have stressed to USUN that they do not have the funds to undertake the prepcom absent the U.S. contributions. USUN seeks Department guidance as soon as possible on an appropriate response. END GUIDANCE REQUEST. ¶2. Text of March 30 letter from UN Controller Warren Sach to Ambassador Mark Wallace regarding NPT funding payment: Begin text: Excellency, I am writing to request your assistance with respect to payment by the Government of the United States for the 2005 NPT Review Conference and the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference. By note verbale dated 6 February 2007, copy attached, the Secretary-General advised that the total cost of the 2005 SIPDIS Review Conference and its Preparatory Committee was $1,418,829. After deduction of the advance payment of $749,717, an amount of $669,112 remained outstanding from the United States. By the same note, the Secretary-General advised that your Government's share of the projected cost of $889,149 for the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference would be $291,819. By its resolution 61/70, the General Assembly endorsed the decision of the States Parties to hold the firs session in Vienna, Austria, from 30 April to 11 May 2007. As costs related to the meeting should not have financial implications for the regular budget of the United Nations, sufficient funding must be received in advance from States Parties. In order to proceed with the arrangements for the first session of the Preparatory Committee, it is essential that the contribution and advance payment by the United States, as per the note verbale dated 6 February 2007, be received by the Secretariat by 5 April 2007. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Singed, Warren Sach Assistant-Secretary General Controller End text. WOLFF