AUSTRALIAN PRIORITIES FOR UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000861 SENSITIVE NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019 TAGS: PREL UNGA AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN PRIORITIES FOR UNGA Classified By: Edgard Kagan, POL/ECON Counselor for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C/NF) SUMMARY Australia's UNGA priorities are promoting its bid for a 2013-2014 Security Council seat, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as UN financial and budgetary issues. Australia is delighted with the U.S. initiative to have a UNSC discussion on disarmament and hopes the United States will be able to at least abstain rather than vote against the first committee resolution on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) (which it is co-sponsoring). The GOA is concerned about the impact of the results and recommendations of the Goldstone report. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C/NF) On September 17, poleconcouns and poloff met with Craig Maclachlan, Assistant Secretary, International Organisations Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to discuss the upcoming UNGA. Maclachlan stated that the GOA is looking forward to the UNGA as an opportunity to promote its UNSC bid for 2013-2014 as well as to push for progress on climate change. PM Rudd will be a co-chair/facilitator for a climate change event. Maclachlan expressed concern that China's hardline position on climate change finance at the G20 Sherpa meeting last week was a problem, and may have a chilling effect on discussion of climate change issues on the margins of the UNGA. ¶3. (C/NF) The GOA is encouraged by the U.S. initiative to have a UNSC discussion on disarmament. Maclachlan stated that the current Australian government is more pro-disarmament than the previous government and is very encouraged by the U.S stance on the CTBT. Noting that it is Australia,s turn to sponsor the annual draft resolution in the First Committee on the CTBT, Maclachlan said that the GOA hopes the U.S. will abstain even if it is not possible to vote "yes." He argued that this would likely increase North Korea's isolation on this issue. ¶4. (C/NF) FM Smith has a personal interest in the "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) and will be eager to promote the issue. Australia has been developing links with some African states who have shown an interest in promoting R2P. The GOA is concerned that some may seek to use the Durban conference as a wedge in the discussion on human rights. ¶5. (C/NF) The GOA is also concerned about the conclusions and recommendations that may be forthcoming from the Goldstone report. Australia has stated they will support a proper investigation, and will be looking closely at the outcomes. However, they need time to review the issues, conclusions and recommendations, as outlined in the report, but they say there may be problems as a result of the report. They believe there is a clear need to find a resolution to the conflict. ¶6. (C/NF) Maclachlan stated that he personally understood the reasoning behind the inclusion of Fiji to the Secretary,s meeting with the Pacific Island leaders. While it may have created some tensions within those in government, Maclachlan said he understood the U.S. had a slightly different policy than Australia towards engagement with Fiji Qdifferent policy than Australia towards engagement with Fiji and he understood the U.S. desire to signal that our concerns are with the regime and not the Fijian people. CLUNE