Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANJOSE257
2009-03-31 14:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy San Jose
Cable title:
GUIDANCE REQUESTED: BRITS SEEK U.S. RESPONSE TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSJ #0257 0901418 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311418Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0698 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0828
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000257
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, USUN JDELAURENTIS, IO/UNP JMARIZ.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC UN CS
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED: BRITS SEEK U.S. RESPONSE TO
GOCR'S UNSC REFORM PROPOSAL
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000257
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, USUN JDELAURENTIS, IO/UNP JMARIZ.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC UN CS
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED: BRITS SEEK U.S. RESPONSE TO
GOCR'S UNSC REFORM PROPOSAL
1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: The Costa Rican MFA
issued a press release on March 10 highlighting a GOCR
proposal for UNSC reform. The MFA did not push anything new
in terms of UNSC enlargement, its desire for greater access
of non-permanent members, especially for small states, and
its focus on Working Methods. However, the release noted that
the GOCR proposal would require changing the UN Charter. The
British EMBASSY here asked for the U.S. position on March 25.
Post requests guidance for responding, including the
Department's/USUN's view and other P5 views. Please advise.
END SUMMARY
2. (U) The MFA reported that it had launched an "innovative
proposal" that sought opportunities for UNSC representation
among small and medium-sized states and could "unblock"
reform discussions that have continued since the UN's
creation. The proposal's three fundamental principles were
rotation, re-election (dependent on performance and
accountability),and an ineligibility clause requiring UNSC
members to sit out a double term before being re-elected. On
the final point, for example, a country that served one term
and was not immediately re-elected would have to sit out at
least twice the term's length before serving again. The
release indicates -- but is not entirely clear -- that a
re-elected country would serve the second term, and then
would be required to sit out for twice the length of the
combined two terms, to ensure opportunities for rotation.
GOCR recommends 3-year instead of two-year terms.
3. (U) The GOCR expressed its "patent opposition" to
extending permanent membership privileges of the P5 to other
UN bodies. It noted that it was against adding new permanent
members to the UNSC unless the number of non-permanent
members were to be extended beyond ten. According to the
MFA, the last sentence of Article 23.2 of the UN Charter
would have to be modified to read: "Retiring members will
not be eligible (for re-election) at all for a period of
double the term" (unofficial translation). Post will forward
the release by email to USUN and IO/UNP. On March 25, the
British EMBASSY asked about the U.S. response.
4. (SBU) UNSC (and overall UN) reform remain an important
objective of the Arias administration, so the content of this
release -- consistent with what we have heard over recent
months -- is not surprising. The fact that it was issued
with no fanfare is somewhat puzzling, but other recent
foreign policy developments (e.g., recognition of Cuba, SICA
frictions and VP Biden's visit) have pushed UN issues aside.
Of note, despite their overall importance to the Arias
administration, there was not a single mention of UN-related
issues in the GOCR's proposed agenda for the bilateral
meeting with the VP. We will consult further with MFA and
report anything newsworthy.
CIANCHETTE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, USUN JDELAURENTIS, IO/UNP JMARIZ.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC UN CS
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED: BRITS SEEK U.S. RESPONSE TO
GOCR'S UNSC REFORM PROPOSAL
1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: The Costa Rican MFA
issued a press release on March 10 highlighting a GOCR
proposal for UNSC reform. The MFA did not push anything new
in terms of UNSC enlargement, its desire for greater access
of non-permanent members, especially for small states, and
its focus on Working Methods. However, the release noted that
the GOCR proposal would require changing the UN Charter. The
British EMBASSY here asked for the U.S. position on March 25.
Post requests guidance for responding, including the
Department's/USUN's view and other P5 views. Please advise.
END SUMMARY
2. (U) The MFA reported that it had launched an "innovative
proposal" that sought opportunities for UNSC representation
among small and medium-sized states and could "unblock"
reform discussions that have continued since the UN's
creation. The proposal's three fundamental principles were
rotation, re-election (dependent on performance and
accountability),and an ineligibility clause requiring UNSC
members to sit out a double term before being re-elected. On
the final point, for example, a country that served one term
and was not immediately re-elected would have to sit out at
least twice the term's length before serving again. The
release indicates -- but is not entirely clear -- that a
re-elected country would serve the second term, and then
would be required to sit out for twice the length of the
combined two terms, to ensure opportunities for rotation.
GOCR recommends 3-year instead of two-year terms.
3. (U) The GOCR expressed its "patent opposition" to
extending permanent membership privileges of the P5 to other
UN bodies. It noted that it was against adding new permanent
members to the UNSC unless the number of non-permanent
members were to be extended beyond ten. According to the
MFA, the last sentence of Article 23.2 of the UN Charter
would have to be modified to read: "Retiring members will
not be eligible (for re-election) at all for a period of
double the term" (unofficial translation). Post will forward
the release by email to USUN and IO/UNP. On March 25, the
British EMBASSY asked about the U.S. response.
4. (SBU) UNSC (and overall UN) reform remain an important
objective of the Arias administration, so the content of this
release -- consistent with what we have heard over recent
months -- is not surprising. The fact that it was issued
with no fanfare is somewhat puzzling, but other recent
foreign policy developments (e.g., recognition of Cuba, SICA
frictions and VP Biden's visit) have pushed UN issues aside.
Of note, despite their overall importance to the Arias
administration, there was not a single mention of UN-related
issues in the GOCR's proposed agenda for the bilateral
meeting with the VP. We will consult further with MFA and
report anything newsworthy.
CIANCHETTE