IRANIAN CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE 2010 COMMISSION ON

UNCLAS STATE 025200 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PREL SNAR IR SUBJECT: IRANIAN CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE 2010 COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS REF: UNVIE 85 ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (U) Per Reftel, Iran has announced its intention to pursue the Chairmanship of the 2010 Commission on Narcotic Drugs and has been elected by the Asia Group to fill this role. A formal announcement is expected this week in Vienna and the election will take place this fall during the reconvened session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. ¶3. (SBU) The Department appreciates UNVIE's ideas for ways that the USG could use this as an opportunity to engage with Iran. While the U.S. maintains its position of not supporting candidacies of countries under UNSC sanctions to head UN agencies, the Asia Group has already selected Iran as its candidate, and we are unlikely to be able to find anyone to run against them at this point. Therefore, at this time, we do not intend to take any action reacting to the Asia Group's decision, while we are still reviewing our Iran policy. ¶4. (SBU) If asked on the margins to respond to news that the Asia Group has chosen Iran to be its candidate for Chair of the CND, Mission can indicate to other delegations that we do not intend to react to the Asia Group's decision. Mission should not publicly comment on Iran's candidacy. CLINTON