REQUEST: HUNGARIAN HCOC OUTREACH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000310 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MTR JOHN PAUL HERRMANN AND SARAH AYERS AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2019 TAGS: PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA HU SUBJECT: REQUEST: HUNGARIAN HCOC OUTREACH Classified By: Acting P/E Counselor Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) MFA Security and Non-Proliferation Department Deputy Chief, Gabor Horvath, contacted PolOff April 20 to request USG concurrence for their proposed outreach to several countries under the aegis of Hungary's current Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation Convention (HCOC) chairmanship. Horvath stated that they plan to reach out to several non-HCOC members represented in Budapest, including Iran, China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil to explain the purpose, importance, and objectives of HCOC. Horvath said the GOH wants to ensure, before inviting DCM-level representatives, that this outreach would not run counter to current U.S. efforts, in particular related to Iran. Horvath provided the non-paper outlined in paragraph three. ¶3. Following is the GOH non-paper text: Begin text The Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) Hungary is currently holding the chair of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. In this capacity, Hungary has been actively pursuing all avenues for a successful outreach toward States remaining outside of the HCoC, encouraging them to join. Hungary is fully committed to upholding the principles of the HCoC regime, strengthening its universalisation and enhancing implementation of both general and transparency measures. There is a need to strengthen the ties of HCoC with the United Nations since it is an integral part of the universal non-proliferation architecture. For Hungary, the issue of ballistic missiles and missile proliferation remains one of the key aspects of multilateral efforts concerning disarmament and non-proliferation. Today, HCoC has 130 Subscribing States. Its importance and relevance was acknowledged by the 63rd United Nations General Assembly in its recently adopted Resolution on HCoC (A/RES/63/64),which was supported by an overwhelming majority of UN Member States. The General Assembly, through the adoption of the Resolution, expressed its conviction that HCoC will contribute to enhancing transparency and confidence among States. The Code is considered to be a political agreement rather than a binding legal obligation. It calls on subscribing States to curb and prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, and to exercise maximum possible restraint in the development, testing, and deployment of those missiles. It further recognizes that States should not be excluded from utilizing the benefits of space for peaceful purposes, but in reaping such benefits and in conducting they must not contribute to the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. To increase transparency and reduce mistrust among subscribing States the Code introduces confidence-building measures such as annual declarations on ballistic missile and space launch vehicle policies and their respective land (test) launch sites, and the exchange of pre-launch notifications on ballistic missile and space launch vehicle launches and test flights. The International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation was launched on 25 November 2002 in The Hague. All member States of the United Nations, except Iraq, were invited to subscribe to the Code and attended the Launching Conference. Despite the large number of participants at the Code's inauguration, several countries with significant missile technology, such as Brazil, People's Republic of China, DPRK, Egypt, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mexico and Pakistan did not join. The Code remains open to States that may wish to join in the future. On 26 November 2002, the Subscribing States held their first meeting. It appointed the Netherlands as the first Chair of the Code for a period of one year. One of the important tasks for the Chair is to expand the number of subscribing States ("outreach"). The Code was subsequently renamed The Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC). The depository of HCoC is The Netherlands. End text ¶4. (U) The GOH requests a response as soon as possible, however, no later than April 22. Levine