HUNGARIAN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ON OSLO PROCESS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000165 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM AND EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2018 TAGS: AF MOPS PARM PREL NATO HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ON OSLO PROCESS TO BAN CLUSTER MUNITIONS REF: SECSTATE 13607 Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Deputy Security and Non-Proliferation Department Head, Gabor Horvath, discussed reftel with PolOff on February ¶15. Horvath stated that the Hungarians, based on presentations they received at NATO, have already "mandated" their Ambassador in New Zealand, representing Hungary at the February 18-22 meeting, to actively engage in the process of the wording of any proposed text to ensure "an appropriate formulation." Queried as to meaning of "an appropriate formulation," Horvath responded that Hungary is sensitive to any wording that would restrict activity with countries that employ cluster munitions, noting, for example, the impact such restrictions could have on Hungarian operations in Afghanistan. Sitting in on the meeting, Sandor Racz, Head of the MFA's Arms Control office, stated that the Hungarians would place special emphasis on the humanitarian aspects of the text, focusing on specific types of cluster munitions that would do "unacceptable harm" to civilians. ¶2. (C) Continuing, Horvath stated that he will pass on to their Ambassador in Wellington reftel highlighted concerns with articles 1 (b),(c) and 9 of the draft text, as well as the potential impact on IMET activities. He commented that Hungary would also try to postpone substantive movement towards a final document decision at the Oslo Process meetings scheduled for May in Dublin. In closing, Horvath commented that the Convention on Conventional Weapons substantive work on the cluster munitions issue in Geneva is highly important as well. FOLEY