BELARUS TO TABLE UNGA RESOLUTION ON WMD, REQUESTS USG

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000834 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KNNP UNGA BO SUBJECT: BELARUS TO TABLE UNGA RESOLUTION ON WMD, REQUESTS USG SUPPORT: ACTION REQUEST ¶1. (U) Ihar Uhorych, Deputy Head of the MFA's Department of International Security and Arms Control, requested a meeting with Charge October 7 to present a non-paper on the subject of a resolution the GOB intends to bring to the UNGA October 17. ¶2. (U) The draft resolution -- text not provided to Charge -- is titled "Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: Report of the Conference of Disarmament." Uhorych noted that the GOB had sponsored the resolution in previous years, when it was usually adopted by consensus; he said the GOB was taken aback by the vote in 2005 -- 180 in favor, one abstention (Israel),and one vote against (U.S.) -- and hoped that it would be possible for the USG to support this year's resolution. ¶3. (U) Uhorych presented the following points as the rationale for the GOB draft: it 1) contains an element of political commitment, expressing the determination to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction and calling upon all states to give favorable consideration to the relevant recommendations of the Conference on Disarmament; 2) suggests a mechanism which is ready to react regardless of the nature (state or non-state actor) of the source of the potential threat and type of potential new WMD; 3) provides a forum for negotiations on a specific, practical and verifiable treaty, should that be necessary; and 4) retains the focus of the international community on the issue of "new types of WMD" with "minimal diversion" of administrative and financial resources of the UN and the Conference on Disarmament. ¶4. (U) Charge noted areas of previous and current nonproliferation cooperation between the USG and GOB, but remained noncommittal on the subject of the resolution and pledged to share the information with the Department. Action Request -------------- ¶5. (SBU) As this is the first substantive interaction with the MFA's International Security Department in about one year, any early indication of the U.S. position on this matter that can be shared with post would be helpful. MOORE CLOUD