FURTHER GUIDANCE FOR THE UNGASS REVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 008303 E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2019 TAGS: AORC KCRM PGOV SNAR UN SUBJECT: FURTHER GUIDANCE FOR THE UNGASS REVIEW NEGOTIATIONS REF: A. TSAI/DAVIS/BARGERON TELCON 1-29-09 ¶B. STATE 007824 Classified By: Acting A/S James Warlick for reasons 1.4 (c) and (e). ¶1. (C) Per ref A, Department understands that Chairman Ashipala supports a cooling off period for discussions involving "harm reduction" and that she believes that the issue can be separated out from the other issues so that negotiations on the latter can continue. Department agrees that UNVIE should inform Ashipala that we support this approach, to hold off on discussing harm reduction while continuing to negotiate the documents. This approach has the added benefit that the cooling off period conforms to an initiative already proposed by the Chairman rather than looking like something new from the United States. Since the proposal for the cooling off period will come from the Chair, it is no longer necessary for UNVIE to approach Russia, Japan and Colombia using the talking points provided in ref B. However, should other member states inquire about possible reports that the United States is reviewing its drug control policy or policy on harm reduction, post should draw as necessary from Department press guidance of January 28 in responding. The text is provided below. ¶2. (U) BEGIN PRESS GUIDANCE ¶Q. What is our current position on the use of harm reduction measures, and why are we still arguing against including language on harm reduction measures in the latest UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, when everyone else in the world, from the EU to Azerbaijan, is overwhelmingly in favor of these measures? -As we go forward in our negotiations in Vienna, the Obama Administration will continue to review and develop its negotiating positions. -The use of the term "harm reduction" is ONE of many issues currently under negotiation in Vienna as part of the preparations for the upcoming UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. -The term "harm reduction" is ambiguous. -"Harm reduction" encompasses a broad umbrella of interventions. Some interventions currently used within the United States under a comprehensive continuum of care include (1) referral to addiction-treatment programs; (2) medication-assisted therapy (via methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone); (3) needle-exchange programs to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS; (4) referral to healthcare and prevention programs, including for HIV/AIDS; (5) HIV/AIDS counseling and testing; and, (6) referral to job-skills training, child care support services, transportation subsidies and other necessary services for successful community integration. -The term "harm reduction" can also include activities not found within the United States, notably drug legalization, the provision of "drug consumption rooms" or "safe injecting rooms", heroin distribution, crack use kits, and providing heroin and needles to persons in prison. -The Member States of the United Nations have not reached consensus on the term's inclusion in the documents to be adopted by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. -We are currently hearing out proposals. While negotiations are ongoing, we are preserving our options pending further decisions by the new Administration. END PRESS GUIDANCE CLINTON