HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON UNGA 64 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000637

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP (SUN),EUR (ELDRIDGE),AND EUR/CE
JAMIE MOORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON UNGA 64 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

REF: SECSTATE 90254


1. In a September 2 meeting with POLOFF to discuss reftel,
the MFA's UN desk officer, Bernadett Kollar, expressed
appreciation for the information covering USG priorities for
the upcoming UNGA session. Lamenting the shortfall in MFA
staffing that impacts preparation of a similarly detailed
agenda package, Kollar, never-the-less, provided general
comments concerning the UN budget process, UN reform efforts,
First and Third Committee plans related to human rights, and
the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BTWC).


2. Referring to the budget process, Kollar commented that
Hungary's contribution, based on the "scale of assessment"
calculated earlier Gross National Income (GNI) figures,
doubled in 2007. She said that Hungary will address the
assessment calculations due to Hungary's current financial
situation and subsequent decreased GNI. Kollar added that
the EU States will collectively raise the "scale of
assessment" issue, as currently the EU States' assessment
approaches 40 percent of the UN total, while their GNI, as a
percentage of the world economy, is only 29 percent. Kollar
also commented that Hungary supports USG efforts to address
effective, transparent, and accountable management issues
within the UN.


3. Turning to human rights issues, Kollar said that Hungary,
as a new member of the Human Rights Council, will pay more
attention to human rights issues evolving in the Third
Committee, with a particular focus on human rights in Iran,
for which Canada has the lead. Kollar also referenced a
First Committee resolution related to the BTWC, noting that
Hungary has already coordinated technical adjustments to the
resolution with the U.S. delegation in Geneva, adding that
Hungary "counts on U.S. support" for the resolution.
LEVINE