DEMARCHE DELIVERED - PEACKEEPING SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000281 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG, IO/MPR/ABRAHAMS, IO/MPR/SPRATTL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AORC PREL UNGA BX SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED - PEACKEEPING SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS REF: SECSTATE 119324 ¶1. (SBU) US Embassy and British High Commission delivered demarches to Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Haji Erywan, Permanent Secretary, International Organizations, MFAT and Ms. Florence Chong, Director, International Organizations, MFAT noted the validity of points made in demarches. Chong noted that Government of Brunei (GoB) is working with G77 group on the issue. In response, British High Commission stated that the GoB would be best served by looking after "its own interests" versus falling back on G77 and/or Level C group consensus. Neither Erywan nor Chong provided further information on Brunei's position and stated it was still a matter for international GoB discussions. Both British and U.S. missions stressed that capacity to pay is and should be a fundamental principle in U.N. peacekeeping assessments. TODD