63RD UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 09 USUN NEW YORK 001173

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2014
TAGS: BP BX CB CH ECON FJ FM ID JA KR KS LA MG
MY, NH, NR, NZ, PHUM, PP, PREL, PS, RM, RP, SN, TH, TN, TV,
UNGA, VM, WS, XB
SUBJECT: 63RD UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDS' PERFORMANCE

REF: (A) USUN NEW YORK 2261 (B) USUN NEW YORK 01040

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF DELAURENTIS FOR REASON
S 1.4 (B & D)


SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION:


1. (U) This cable was prepared by Ambassador Joan Plaisted,
who served as Senior Area Adviser for East Asia and the
Pacific to the 63rd United Nations General Assembly.


2. (U) To achieve U.S. objectives for the 63rd UN General
Assembly (UNGA) session, East Asian and Pacific Islands
support was essential. During the General Debate the United
States sought to advance priorities on democracy and human
rights and on regional issues, including Georgia, Kosovo,
Burma, Iran, Sudan/Darfur, and the Middle East, and to
demonstrate U.S. leadership on the issues of development and
food security. During the remainder of the General Assembly
we pressed for other U.S. priorities, such as human rights,
UN reform, including reform of the UN Security Council, and
improving voting coincidence with the U.S. in the General
Assembly. The President of the General Assembly, Miquel
d'Escoto Brockmann, a former Sandinista, had his own
priorities. These included democratization of the UN (i.e.
strengthening the GA vis-a-vis the Security Council) and
addressing hunger, poverty, and rising food and oil prices.
Dedicating his presidency to "the dispossessed of the world,"
he cited the "lack of democracy in the UN" as one of the
reasons the world is in a "deplorable state" today. He took
numerous jabs at the U.S. throughout the session.


3. (U) EAP votes were especially helpful on three Middle East
resolutions the United States identified as top priorities.
Although these still passed by overwhelming margins, the
Pacific Islanders accounted for the majority of the "no"
votes with the United States and for many of the abstentions.
Voting "no" with the United States and Israel, along with
Canada, were Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia,
Nauru, and Palau.


4. (SBU) A top U.S. priority this session was to ensure
passage of the Iran human rights resolution. First we had to
prevent a no-action motion (a motion to adjourn debate that
ends all discussion of an issue) from passing in the Third
Committee. This motion failed by only one vote in 2007 and
two votes in 2006. All out efforts by USUN, Washington, and
our Posts ensured the no-action motion on the Iran human
rights resolution failed by what the Canadian sponsors termed
a "stunning" ten vote margin in the Third Committee. EAP
votes also helped defeat a no-action motion on Burma. The
Third Committee subsequently passed all three human rights
resolutions: on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK. On our top
priority, many EAP countries in the Third Committee cast
welcome "no" votes with us to defeat the Iran no-action
motion: Japan, the ROK, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and 13 of the
14 Pacific Islands (all except the Solomon Islands). We were
able to pick up two more "no" votes when Kiribati got in its
proxy and Tuvalu's Permrep reluctantly carried out his good
instructions from capital. Kiribati for the first time was
able to join all the Third Committee human rights votes. On
Burma, two ASEAN countries (Indonesia and the Philippines)
abstained on the no-action motion and four (Indonesia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) abstained on the human
rights resolution in the Third Committee. On the DPRK human
rights resolution, the welcome news this year was the ROK's
being able to vote "yes" rather than abstaining. Third
Committee items are expected to come up in the Plenary for a

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vote on December 18; we again need active lobbying efforts by
posts.


5. (C) The votes of Pacific Islanders, which now number 14
counting Australia and New Zealand, can no longer be taken
for granted. While not exactly a voting bloc, the islands
are an influential group whose votes are increasingly
solicited by others. The U.S. is not always seen as
supportive on the issues of most importance to them: climate
change and sustainable development. Some island Permreps are
being actively courted by Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, among
others, and may be influenced by who can give them
assistance. One Permrep put it most colorfully, speaking
about both the Pacific Islands and the Africans, "we are here
to get the goodies." Tuvalu's Permrep, when the Senior
Advisor asked if he considered principles in his human rights
votes, replied, "of course, but in reality, as a small island
country, we need assistance."


6. (C) Looking ahead, Japan will replace Indonesia on the
Security Council (SC) in 2009-2010, after crushing Iran which
only received 32 votes to Japan's 158 in the SC election for
the Asian seat. Japan, having only announced its candidacy
in January 2007, lobbied aggressively to be certain to win on
the first ballot. Vietnam has one more year to serve (then
Lebanon hopes to win this seat). The issue of SC enlargement
will again prove difficult to resolve. China to date remains
non-supportive of Japan's permanent membership. Japan, along
with Brazil, Germany, and India, has been pushing the UN to
begin serious intergovernmental negotiations. The Open-ended
Working Group (OEWG),where the ROK has been an outspoken
delegation, has opposed a timeline for intergovernmental
negotiations. In a hard-fought compromise that the GA
President tried to overturn, the OEWG is to focus on the
framework and modalities for the upcoming intergovernmental
negotiations that are finally to begin in February 2009 after
consultations (December 5, 2008 through January 2009).

--------------
General Debate
--------------


7. (U) East Asia and Pacific countries in their speeches
during the General Debate when almost all of the 192 member
states addressed the General Assembly discussed the
deleterious impact of the global food, energy, and financial
crises on their economies. Many called for deeper regional
integration as a means to temper the turbulence in global
financial markets. Australia offered details on just how to
fix it. China attributed its development success to the
result of reforms and the opening up of its economy - trends
it pledged to continue. Burma claimed that the sooner unjust
sanctions are revoked, the sooner their country would be in a
position to become the region's rice bowl and a reliable
energy source. Singapore proclaimed the UN's objective
should be to promote effective government rather than
democracy to foster national development. Japan and
Australia reiterated calls for the total elimination of
nuclear weapons. They were joined by others from the region
in focusing on the need to resolve the North Korean nuclear
issue. Japan, the ROK, Australia, and Cambodia were among
the countries calling on the DPRK to uphold its commitments
and to continue to pursue progress though the Six-Party
Talks. The DPRK lashed out against the United States as "the
worst peace breaker and human rights violator in the world"
and blamed the ROK and Japan for failing to redress
historical grievances.


8. (U) Pacific island nations appealed for countries to

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redouble efforts to address climate change and rising sea
levels, which they maintained threaten the security of their
people, and sought support for a General Assembly resolution
on "Security and Climate Change" calling for SC review.
(Their draft resolution is still being discussed in informal
consultations). Kiribati, Tuvalu and Vanuatu called for
environmental vulnerability to be the key factor to take into
account for least developed country graduation status. Fiji
announced it was unable to schedule elections in early 2009
as earlier anticipated. Common themes throughout many of the
speeches were climate change, the environment,
counterterrorism, Millennium Development Goals, financing for
development, trade and debt reform, disarmament, human
rights, and management and SC reform.

--------------
Middle East Issues
--------------


9. (U) EAP countries were helpful in adding to the "no" votes
and abstentions on three priority resolutions opposed by the
United States that extend the mandates of anti-Israeli UN
programs established more than a generation ago. These
programs contribute neither to the achievement of peace in
the region nor to the goal of UN reform. The State
Department, under PL 106-113 (Section 721),is required to
report by January 15 each year on steps taken to abolish
certain UN groups, including these three programs.


10. (U) In an unsuccessful attempt to end the mandate of the
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, the
Plenary vote was 94 for-8(U.S.)against-73 abstain. Last year
the vote was 93-8(U.S.)-74. Voting "no" with the U.S. and
Israel were Australia, Canada, the Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau. Tuvalu, with its erratic
Permrep, switched to a "yes" vote, after abstaining last
year, and voting "no" with us in 2005 and 2006. It would be
interesting to know if he was operating on instructions from
his capital. The Philippines and Thailand again broke ranks
with ASEAN to abstain. Also abstaining were Fiji, Japan, the
ROK, Mongolia, New Zealand, Samoa, Timor-Leste, and Tonga.
Absent were Kiribati, PNG, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu
(whose Deputy the Senior Advisor was able to get to come to
the vote only to be too confused to vote).


11. (U) An attempt to end the Division for Palestinian Rights
of the Secretariat failed by a vote of 106-8(U.S.)-57. Last
year the vote was 110-8(U.S.)-54. Again joining the U.S.,
Israel, Canada, and Australia in voting "no" were our
traditional small island friends - the Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau. We picked up two abstentions
when Fiji switched from an unhelpful "yes" vote and PNG
switched from being not present last year to abstaining this
year. PNG had earlier abstained from 2004 to 2006. Alas, we
saw two additional "yes" votes this year cast by the Solomon
Islands whose Permrep had abstained last year and by
Timor-Leste who had been not present last year. Tonga was
able to abstain for the third year. The ROK and Thailand
helpfully maintained their abstentions. (In 2003 they both
shifted to abstaining from voting "yes"). Also abstaining
were Japan, New Zealand, and Samoa. Kiribati, Mongolia,
Tuvalu, and Vanuatu were absent.


12. (U) We also sought unsuccessfully (107-8(U.S.)-57) to
discontinue the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People. Last year the vote was
109-8(U.S.)-55. The votes were the same, reflecting the same
shifts, as for the Division for Palestinian Rights. Voting
"no" were Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru,

USUN NEW Y 00001173 004 OF 009


and Palau. Abstaining were Fiji, Japan, ROK, New Zealand,
PNG, Samoa, Thailand, and Tonga. Absent were Kiribati,
Mongolia, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. All other EAP countries voted
"yes."


13. (SBU) Next year EAP should try to obtain more "no" votes
from the islanders, including Samoa and Tonga. We





should seek to get Vanuatu to again abstain rather than being
not present. PNG, which abstained on two of the resolutions,
should be encouraged to abstain on the Special Committee
rather than being absent. Timor-Leste should be urged to at
least be not present on all three resolutions, rather than
joining the "yes" votes on two. (Their Permrep, at the
Senior Advisor's request, is already reviewing these votes).
The high cost of maintaining these mandates - $5.5 million
for FY 2006-2007 for the Division for Palestinian Rights of
the Secretariat - is a good point to emphasize.

--------------
Human Rights Resolutions
--------------


14. (U) EAP posts efforts paid off when the three top
priority resolutions on the human rights situations in Iran,
Burma, and the DPRK were adopted by the Third Committee.
These resolutions still have to be voted on in the Plenary, a
vote now expected December 18. Persistent outreach by USUN,
Washington, and our Ambassadors and embassy staff helped us
to achieve a 10-vote winning margin on the most critical and
close of these votes, the Iran no-action motion. Given that
the Iran no-action motion failed by only one vote in 2007 and
two votes in 2006, this year's vote tally showed a very
concerted and successful effort to change the trend lines.
The no-action motions called by Iran and Burma had to be
overcome as part of the arduous process of winning the
resolution votes. The no-action motion on Iran failed
(71-81(U.S.)-28, while the resolution itself was adopted
70(U.S.)-51-60. The no-action motion on Burma lost by a wide
margin (54-90(U.S.)-34),while the actual resolution won by
an even larger margin (89-(U.S.)-29-63). The DPRK resolution
passed with a vote of 95(U.S.)-24-62. How EAP countries
voted is outlined in detail below:


15. (SBU) Iran no action motion: 71-81(U.S.)-28. Last
year's Third Committee vote was 78-79(U.S.)-24. The
Canadians, as the resolution's sponsor, said they were
"stunned" by the ten-vote margin this year. The U.S.
co-sponsored. We picked up two additional EAP "no" votes in
Kiribati and Tuvalu. Kiribati was not present and Tuvalu had
abstained in the Third Committee last year. PNG maintained
its good "no" vote, having switched from abstaining in 2006.
All Pacific Islands voted no with us, except for the Solomon
Islands that shifted from abstaining in the Third Committee
last year to voting "yes" this year, a vote cast by their
maverick Permrep in spite of the Prime Minister's assurances
that the Solomon Islands would abstain on all votes. All
ASEANS voted "yes."

Yes: Brunei, Cambodia, China, DPRK, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands,
Thailand, Vietnam.

No: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, PNG, ROK,

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Samoa, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.


16. (SBU) Iran human rights resolution: 70(U.S.)-51-60. Last
year's Third Committee vote was 72(U.S.)-50-55. We picked up
an additional "yes" vote when Kiribati cast a proxy vote
after being absent in the Third Committee last year. A
last-minute intervention by our Ambassador in Timor-Leste,
after their Permrep tipped off the Senior Advisor of their
plans to abstain, enabled Timor-Leste to vote "yes."

Yes: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa, Timor-Leste,
Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

No: China, DPRK, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam.

Abstain: Brunei, Laos, Mongolia, PNG, Philippines, ROK,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand.

Absent: Cambodia.


17. (U) Burma no action motion: 54-90(U.S.)-34. Last year's
Third Committee vote was 54-88(U.S.)-34. In the Third
Committee this year we picked up two "no" votes from Kiribati
(from their being not present last year) and Tuvalu (that
abstained last year). Micronesia and Nauru were unusually
absent, but both delegations have assured us they will vote
"no" with us in the plenary. Indonesia abstained rather than
voting "no" as they did last year to show their disgust with
Burma's regime for murdering peaceful protesters. The
Philippines maintained an abstention, but Singapore returned
to their traditional "yes" vote, after abstaining last year.
The Solomon Islands voted "yes", having abstained in the
Third Committee in 2007.

Yes: Brunei, Cambodia, China, DPRK, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam.

No: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Mongolia, New Zealand, Palau, PNG, ROK, Samoa, Timor-Leste,
Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Abstain: Indonesia, Philippines.

Absent: Micronesia, Nauru.


18. (U) Burma human rights resolution: 89(U.S.)-29-63. Last
year's Third Committee vote was 88(U.S.)-24-66. Because this
resolution has budgetary implications, it can come up for a
vote very late in the Plenary when some small countries are
absent. It was EU-sponsored and the United States again
co-sponsored. The resolution strongly calls on the
government of Myanmar to release all political prisoners,
including Aung San Suu Kyi. It also calls on the government
of Myanmar to permit all political representatives and
representatives of ethnic nationalities to participate fully
in the political transition process without restrictions and
to resume, without further delay, a dialogue with all
political actors, including the NLD and representatives of
ethnic nationalities. The resolution extends the Secretary
General's mandate by requesting the SG "to continue to
provide his good offices" and to give all necessary
assistance to enable his Special Advisor and the Special
Rapporteur to discharge their mandates fully and effectively
and in a coordinated manner. We picked up four "yes" votes:
Fiji (from abstain),Kiribati (from not present),Samoa (from
abstain),and Tonga (from not present). Micronesia was
absent, but their delegate plans to vote "yes" in the
plenary. Brunei shifted to a "no" vote, having abstained

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last year.

Yes: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, ROK, Samoa, Timor-Leste,
Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

No: Brunei, China, DPRK, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam.

Abstain: Indonesia, PNG, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Thailand.

Absent: Cambodia, Micronesia.


19. (U) DPRK human rights resolution: 95(U.S.)-24-62. Last
year's Third Committee vote was 97(U.S.)-23-60. This was the
fourth time the UNGA has passed a human rights resolution on
the DPRK. It was EU-sponsored, the United States
cosponsored. The resolution expresses very serious concern
at the persistence of continuing reports of systemic,
widespread and grave violations of civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights and the continued
refusal to recognize the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on
the situation of human rights in the DPRK. The welcome news
this year was the ROK being able to vote "yes", rather than
abstaining. Kiribati added another "yes" vote, having been
not present last year. However, we lost two "yes" votes from
last year when Cambodia and the Philippines switched to
abstaining this year.

Yes: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, PNG, ROK, Samoa,
Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

No: China, DPRK, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Vietnam.

Abstain: Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, Thailand.

Absent: Mongolia.

--------------
Defamation of Religions
--------------


20. (U) Another Third Committee priority was to ensure broad
cross-regional opposition to the Egyptian-sponsored
defamation resolution. The resolution seeks to impose
limitations on freedom of expression that run contrary to
U.S. and international law. While the resolution passed in
the Third Committee by a vote of 85-50(U.S.)-42, we were
pleased to see the combined "no" votes and abstentions
outnumbered the "yes" votes. Voting yes were Brunei,
Cambodia, China, DPRK, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Voting no with the U.S. were Australia, Micronesia, New
Zealand, Palau, ROK, and Samoa. Abstaining were Japan,
Mongolia, Nauru, PNG, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu. Kiribati,
the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu were
absent. This vote will come up again in the Plenary.

--------------
U.S. Resolution on Compliance
--------------


21. (U) The U.S. triennial resolution on "Compliance with
non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements
and commitments" passed in the Plenary by an overwhelming
vote of 158(U.S.)-0-18. The resolution stresses the

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importance of compliance with these agreements and calls on
states to hold accountable those states not in compliance
with their nonproliferation and arms control treaty
obligations. This year the resolution was updated to
acknowledge the importance of building effective national,
regional and international verification, compliance, and
enforcement capacities, and to call upon member states to
assist governments, as appropriate, to increase their
capacity to implement fully their verification and compliance
obligations. The resolution obtained support this year from
Indonesia, while China and the DPRK once again did not
participate in the vote. Fifty-seven countries co-sponsored.
EAP co-sponsors were Australia, Fiji, Japan, Palau, and
Timor-Leste.

--------------
Bloc Politics and EAP Country Performance
--------------


22. (SBU) ASEAN countries sometimes went their own ways this
UNGA, as seen in their diverse votes on the Burma no-action
motion in the Third Committee and the Burma and Iranian human
rights resolutions. The Philippines and Thailand again split
off to abstain on some Middle East issues this session.
Thailand took over the ASEAN Chair from Singapore. Cuba took
over from Malaysia in 2006 as the NAM coordinator, making NAM
decisions more likely to go against US interests.


23. (C) As in past years, Pacific Island Forum (PIF)
countries consult regularly on UN issues. Tonga serves as
the Pacific Island Forum chair. Counting Australia and New
Zealand, the Pacific Islands now number 14, with the addition
of Tuvalu as a member in 2000 and Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga
in 1999. While not exactly a voting bloc, the islands are an
influential group whose votes are increasingly solicited by
others. The United States can not take these votes for
granted when we seek support on human rights, Middle East,
and other issues. Even our normally solid supporter, the
Marshall Islands, switched to abstaining rather then voting
"no" with the U.S., Israel, and Palau on the resolution
calling for an end to the Cuban embargo. (The RMI President
later expressed displeasure with his Permrep's vote). The
most important issues to the islands are sustainable
development and climate change, where the US is not always
viewed as supportive. Iran, for example, lobbied
aggressively on human rights and Middle East issues. In
pursuit of SC votes, both Iceland and Austria sent envoys to
the South Pacific. Turkey invited the Pacific Islanders to a
summit.


24. (C) Increasingly the Senior Advisor is noting a "what's
in it for me or my country" attitude. The Micronesian
permrep put it colorfully, referring to both the Pacific
Islanders and the Africans, "we are here to get the goodies."
He maintained this is particularly important for Permreps
who are also accredited to Washington (Nauru, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu). The Solomon Island's
Permrep arranged for his Foreign Minister to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding with his Iranian counterpart
during the General Debate in September and the Minister later
visited Iran. This explains in part the Permrep's tenacity
in his votes on the human rights resolution. Venezuela and
Cuba court the islanders too. Several countries have medical
students studying in Havana: Nauru, the Solomon Islands, and
Kiribati, with Tuvalu working on a future program. Tuvalu's
Permrep told the Senior Advisor that he votes for whoever can
assist Tuvalu: if you can help us on this project, we will
vote for you. "We are here bilaterally to seek assistance,"
he maintained. In a likely reference to Iran, he added that

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some countries did not honor their commitment and Tuvalu
would not vote for them again. Asked by the Senior Advisor
if he considered principles regarding the human rights votes,
he replied, "of course, but in reality, as a small island
country, we need assistance."


25. (C) The best way to get island votes, in addition to
providing assistance, is to spend time with these small
delegations and to provide written talking points for them to
share with their capitals, when needed. Most regular contact
in New York ends after the Senior Advisor departs. The
islanders have appreciated lunches hosted by the Senior
Advisor and sometimes by the U.S. Permrep and the session EAP
A/S Christopher Hill held in September with their heads of
delegation to the General Debate. It has been helpful to
have Palau's Permrep, who almost always votes with the U.S.
in New York and not to have to pursue a proxy. Kiribati, due
to cost, is now the only Pacific island without a UN Mission
in New York, although their President participated in
September's General Debate. For the first time Kiribati,
which traditionally grants its proxy to New Zealand, arranged
a proxy vote for the SC elections and all the human rights
resolutions in the Third Committee. We hope Kiribati's
increased participation will continue. One has to start well
in advance to line this up. The Solomon Islands is often the
odd island out on human rights and other votes. Tuvalu's
Permrep also bears watching. Vanuatu should be able to
participate in more votes. For many of the islands with
small missions, just showing up for a vote is a major feat.
Some made effective use of interns to supplement their small
delegations. Taiwan has managed to get into the UN via the
back door, placing interns in a few delegations including the
Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau.


26. (SBU) Because almost all of developing Asia is organized
in one regional group or another, Mongolia feels left out,
belonging to no sub-regional group and believes this impacts
its ability to get elected to UN bodies, leading Mongolia to
drop its SC seat candidacy for 2009-2010. Mongolia has
recently played a more active role as seen in its two
resolutions adopted by consensus this UNGA on the "UN
literacy decade" and "Mongolia's international security and
nuclear weapons free status." Timor-Leste, a fairly recent
UN member, is feeling its way on the issues and, without
being a member of a group, is amenable to considering
questions on their merits. Timor-Leste's Permrep worked with
the Senior Advisor and his capital this session to be able to
cast laudatory "yes" votes on all the human rights
resolutions including Iran and "no" votes against all no
action motions. In sum, it is very important to get to know
and spend time with the Permreps.


27. (C) Japan has performed solidly, if very cautiously, in
view of its permanent seat aspirations on the SC and its
successful bid for a temporary SC seat for 2009-2010. Japan
was elected earlier to a temporary seat for 2009-2010 on the
newly created Peacebuilding Commission and will serve as
chair until year-end as part of its efforts to be seen as a
constructive player. The U.S. and Japan, that together
contribute 42 percent of the UN budget, will need to work
closely to pursue critical management reforms in the
Secretariat and to limit the unrestrained growth of the
budget to an acceptable level. Japan can generally be counted
on to consider seriously the financial implications of
Council decisions, especially those related to the expansion
of peacekeeping mandates. Japan's willingness to back U.S.
positions was only constrained by its desire to be as
inoffensive to as many other delegations on as many issues as
possible to obtain maximum support for its overarching

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objective: securing a permanent SC seat.

--------------
The Future
--------------


28. (C) Looking ahead, Japan will replace Indonesia on the SC
in 2009-2010, after crushing Iran which only received 32
votes to Japan's 158 in the SC election for the Asian seat.
Japan, a late entrant in Janaury 2007 with Mongolia
withdrawing its candidacy, lobbied aggressively to be certain
to win on the first ballot. Japan may have benefited from
being seen as a responsible UN member, the head of the
Peacebuilding Commission, and the second largest contributor
to the UN budget, while Iran is in violation of both Security
Council and General Assembly resolutions. This will be the
tenth time Japan has served on the SC, the most recent being
in 2005-2006. Vietnam has one more year to serve (with
Lebanon hoping to replace them). Vietnam's emergence on the
world stage has meant having to start taking clearer stands
on issues of international peace and security outside the
southeast Asian region. Their approach to most issues more
closely resembles that of China, rather than the United
States; Vietnam's voting coincidence with us in the General
Assembly is very low. Australia announced this year (some
six years too late, according to their Deputy Permrep) its
quest for a non-permanent SC seat in 2013-2014. Three WEOG
candidates (Luxembourg, Finland, and Australia) are competing
for two WEOG seats.


29. (C) The issue of SC enlargement will again prove
difficult to resolve, although the President of the General
Assembly is trying to spur negotiations. The Open-ended
Working Group is to focus on the framework and modalities for
the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations that are to begin
not later than February 28, 2009. Japan's prime minister has
reached out more to China and has refrained from visiting the
controversial Yasukuni Shrine. China to date remains
non-supportive of Japan's permanent membership. The ROK had
earlier signaled its opposition to new SC permanent members.
The United States emphasizes that any reform of the SC must
be undertaken for the ultimate purpose of increasing the
effectiveness of the UN system. A comprehensive package of
reforms must include reforms in other areas such as General
Assembly financing and decision-making where the U.S. has yet
to see significant movement. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,
when he was sworn in as the first Asian Secretary General in
35 years (since U Thant of Burma),promised that his top
priority would be to restore trust in a United Nations that
has been criticized for corruption and mismanagement and
witnessed distrust among members deeply divided over UN
reform. His work remains cut out for him.


30. (U) The good showing this UNGA by EAP countries - with
the Pacific Islands often our best allies in the UN - was
attributable to concerted efforts on all fronts: in New York,
in Washington, and in capitals. Our embassies in particular
deserve our gratitude for their lobbying efforts with host
governments, often on short notice.
KHALILZAD
Khalilzad