UN REQUESTS USG VIEWS ON PROPOSED CONVENTIONAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000080 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM KTIA UN SUBJECT: UN REQUESTS USG VIEWS ON PROPOSED CONVENTIONAL ARMS TRADE TREATY ¶1. USUN has received the following diplomatic note dated 16 January 2007 from the United Nations Department of Disarmament Affairs (DDA) requesting Member State input on a "comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export, and transfer conventional arms" as called for in GA resolution 61/89. The U.S. voted against this resolution and opposed the establishment of a reporting requirement. DDA has asked all Member States for input by 30 April 2007 in order to prepare a report for the 62nd GA. USUN requests instructions on how/whether to respond to the DDA request given our opposition to the resolution. Full text of DDA note below. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT The Department of Disarmament Affairs presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations and has the honor to refer to resolution 61/89 entitled "Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export, and transfer of conventional arms" adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December 2006. By operative paragraph 1, the General Assembly: "Requests the Secretary General to seek the views of Member States on the feasibility, scope, and draft parameters for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, and to submit a report on the subject to the General Assembly at its sixty second session". The Department of Disarmament Affairs would be grateful if, in preparation of its views, the Permanent Mission's Government would consider including information on the following: (i) elements of the conventional arms trade that should be included in the scope of the envisaged arms trade treaty; (ii) principles, guidelines and parameters that should govern the international transfer of conventional arms; and (iii) any other features that might contribute to the development and adoption of an effective arms trade treaty. The Department for Disarmament Affairs would appreciate it if the Permanent Mission's Government could communicate its views on the subject to the Department by 30 April 2007, so as to facilitate issuance of a report in time for consideration by the General Assembly. END TEXT WOLFF