HUNGARY AND CLUSTER MUNITIONS -- FOCUS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000480 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG AND PM/WRA KATHERINE BAKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2018 TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO HU SUBJECT: HUNGARY AND CLUSTER MUNITIONS -- FOCUS ON UNACCEPTABLE HARM REF: A. SECSTATE 48124 ¶B. BUDAPEST 0165 Classified By: DCM Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) MFA Deputy Security and Non-Proliferation Department Head, Gabor Horvath, discussed ref A with PolOff on May 7. Acknowledging the potential impact on interoperability and joint military actions, Horvath reiterated the Hungarian position outlined previously (ref B) - "Hungary can only support or talk about a ban on cluster munitions that cause 'unacceptable harm" to civilians." Horvath stated that debate on the elements of the proposed Convention must make a clear distinction between those cluster munitions that cause "unacceptable harm' and "intelligent ones." He defined "unacceptable harm" as munitions that would be actively armed indefinitely, posing a continuing, long-term threat to civilians. Horvath stated this "very narrow" definition would allow the use of more sophisticated cluster munitions, though Hungary still maintains a moratorium on cluster munitions use by their forces. ¶2. (C) Continuing with the "unacceptable harm" theme, Horvath commented that the MFA and Hungarian MoD are developing a transition road map to establish a moratorium on inaccurate and indiscriminate cluster munitions, with a long-term goal of a total ban on such weapons. Their matrix would evaluate a weapon's production date, life-span and accuracy and then plot a moratorium or total ban date. He stated that the Hungarian delegation is "thinking about" presenting this concept at the Dublin meeting on May 19 if the inter-ministerial coordination is complete. ¶3. (U) The U.S. Air Attache delivered the demarche to the Hungarian Ministry of Defense's Defense Policy Department Head, Zsolt Nagy, on May 9. Nagy confirmed the Hungarian position and planning outlined by MFA's Horvath. Foley