CLARIFYING THE UFC POSITION ON UNSC REFORM: A/S

UNCLAS STATE 103663 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PREL SUBJECT: CLARIFYING THE UFC POSITION ON UNSC REFORM: A/S BRIMMER'S SEPTEMBER 23 MEETING WITH ITALIAN UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS VINCENZO SCOTTI ¶1. SUMMARY. A/S Brimmer met with Italian Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Vincenzo Scotti on September 23 on the margins of the 64th UN General Assembly (UNGA). The discussion focused entirely on Italy's positions on UN Security Council (UNSC) expansion. END SUMMARY. ¶2. At a meeting with IO Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer, Italian Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Vincenzo Scotti expressed his appreciation for U.S. support for a smooth transition of intergovernmental negotiations on UNSC reform from the 63rd to the 64th sessions of the UNGA. However, now that "the problem is back on the table," he said there was an urgent need to move quickly. ¶3. U/S Scotti re-iterated Italy's objections to increasing the number of permanent members. He said the world's problems are more complex than they were in 1946, and solving them requires more flexibility and more comprehensive representation from the world's nations. This could be done, he said, only through a greater number of non-permanent seats that would give greater voice to other "important states" in the East (he included Turkey),Africa, South America, and among Arab nations. He also re-iterated Italy's calls for a regional seat for Europe that would represent the entire continent. ¶4. U/S Scotti emphasized that Italy in no way opposed UNSC reforms. They were not trying to find tactics to avoid or delay change. U/S Scotti re-iterated Italy's strong support for reform but said that adding new permanent seats would not necessarily represent a fundamental change to the Council's structure. He noted that new actors would always come on the scene, but the UNSC could not keep adding new permanent seats indefinitely as a way of addressing new realities. He asserted that the "mentality" must change. Just as climate change required a new paradigm, so UNSC and "G-ography" also need to change in order to enhance flexibility. ¶5. U/S Scotti strongly emphasized that, in pursuit of practical solutions and not ideological change, Italy is open to discussions on all ideas regarding UNSC expansion. They are planning to convene another meeting in Rome in 2010, which he emphasized would not be limited only to Uniting For Consensus (UFC) members. The United States will be invited to the meeting, at which U/S Scotti hopes to engage in "discussion, but not necessarily proposing or making decisions." (Note: Italy held a similar meeting in Rome on February 5, 2009, in advance of the launch of intergovernmental negotiations, ostensibly to shore up the UFC position and try to win African countries to it. End Note.) ¶6. U/S Scotti said that he eagerly awaited the results of the U.S. policy review. He said that it was important for the United States to speak on this issue, noting that in 2008 the U.S. position was not clearly articulated. He called on the Obama Administration to "face the issue as part of its new multilateral engagement." ¶7. U/S Scotti mentioned that Italy has made significant contributions to the UN system, including peacekeeping operations, and stated that their contributions are not taken into consideration during these discussions. A/S Brimmer acknowledged Italy's positive role in the UN, and expressed appreciation for Italy's positions on UNSC reform and for keeping the strengthening of the UN as its first consideration. She noted other efforts to strengthen and consolidate the UN, such as current work on a new gender entity, and expressed interest in continuing discussions on UNSC reform throughout the 64th session. CLINTON