U.S. EXPERT FOR UN GROUP OF GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS

UNCLAS STATE 000664 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CDG ETTC MAS MCAP PARM UNGA SUBJECT: U.S. EXPERT FOR UN GROUP OF GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS (GGE) ON AMMUNITION IN SURPLUS ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. In its October 29 note verbale, the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs (ODA) invited the U.S. to nominate an expert to participate in the work of the 2008 Group of Governmental Experts to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition in surplus pursuant to UNGA resolution 61/72. The first session of the GGE will convene in Geneva January 14-18, 2008 with two subsequent meetings (April 7-11 and July 7-11) scheduled for New York. ¶3. Mission is requested to inform appropriate ODA officials via a note verbale that Steven Costner will serve as the U.S. expert for the GGE. Mr. Costner is Deputy Director in the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA),U.S. Department of State. ¶4. Note to USUN and US. Mission Geneva: Mr. Costner will be accompanied by William Kullman, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Director, ATF. ¶5. USUN is requested to forward any information related to this GGE to Stephanie Pico at PicoSL@state.gov, and Steven Costner at CostnerSR@state.gov. RICE