Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA33
2009-01-29 11:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
UNVIE
Cable title:
UNODC:Costa Welcomes Renewed Focus on Multilateral
how-toVZCZCXYZ0023 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUNV #0033 0291152 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 291152Z JAN 09 FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8942 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1456 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 1309 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0274 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0256
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000033
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM UN PGOV PREL AF KWMN PHUM SMIG
SUBJECT: UNODC:Costa Welcomes Renewed Focus on Multilateral
Diplomacy, Urges More Analysis of Organized Crime.
REF: STATE 07023
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000033
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM UN PGOV PREL AF KWMN PHUM SMIG
SUBJECT: UNODC:Costa Welcomes Renewed Focus on Multilateral
Diplomacy, Urges More Analysis of Organized Crime.
REF: STATE 07023
1. (SBU) In a candid January 27 review of upcoming priorities, UNODC
Executive Director Antonio Costa described for Ambassador his
interest in finding ways to better address the "transmission belt"
of organized crime and smuggling that moves illegal drugs from
producers to the markets. Costa explained that UNODC has a good
understanding of the drug addiction side of the equation, and has
greatly strengthened its programs on the cultivation side -- but the
area of drug trafficking and related organized crime is much more
problematic. We have good treaties, Costa continued, but
implementation and monitoring are lagging. There is, he argued, an
"unexplained economy" worth billions that still needs to be broken.
2. (SBU) Costa was very enthusiastic about the new US
Administration's approach to multilateral diplomacy, noting that SG
Ban Ki-Moon had been "overwhelmed" by the positive signals from his
initial discussions with the Secretary and President regarding UN
issues. Responding to the Ambassador's highlighting of Secretary
Clinton's confirmation comments on human trafficking, Costa noted he
had reviewed the Questions For the Record and welcomed the continued
US focus on this scourge. Decrying the "knowledge crisis" regarding
international human trafficking, Costa handed over an advance copy
of the new UNODC human trafficking report.
3. (SBU) Costa also used this discussion to flag the ongoing problem
of insufficient resources for UNODC's General Purpose Fund. Noting
ample project specific funding, Costa explained that he may have to
eliminate between "15 and 20" positions this year because of
insufficient resources to oversee these slots on the UNODC
management side.
4. (SBU) In a private pull aside, Ambassador expressed US support
for the candidacy of John Sandage (reftel) to be the head of UNODC's
Treaty and Legal division. Costa welcomed this signal, and noted
his own enthusiasm for Sandage's work.
SCHULTE
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM UN PGOV PREL AF KWMN PHUM SMIG
SUBJECT: UNODC:Costa Welcomes Renewed Focus on Multilateral
Diplomacy, Urges More Analysis of Organized Crime.
REF: STATE 07023
1. (SBU) In a candid January 27 review of upcoming priorities, UNODC
Executive Director Antonio Costa described for Ambassador his
interest in finding ways to better address the "transmission belt"
of organized crime and smuggling that moves illegal drugs from
producers to the markets. Costa explained that UNODC has a good
understanding of the drug addiction side of the equation, and has
greatly strengthened its programs on the cultivation side -- but the
area of drug trafficking and related organized crime is much more
problematic. We have good treaties, Costa continued, but
implementation and monitoring are lagging. There is, he argued, an
"unexplained economy" worth billions that still needs to be broken.
2. (SBU) Costa was very enthusiastic about the new US
Administration's approach to multilateral diplomacy, noting that SG
Ban Ki-Moon had been "overwhelmed" by the positive signals from his
initial discussions with the Secretary and President regarding UN
issues. Responding to the Ambassador's highlighting of Secretary
Clinton's confirmation comments on human trafficking, Costa noted he
had reviewed the Questions For the Record and welcomed the continued
US focus on this scourge. Decrying the "knowledge crisis" regarding
international human trafficking, Costa handed over an advance copy
of the new UNODC human trafficking report.
3. (SBU) Costa also used this discussion to flag the ongoing problem
of insufficient resources for UNODC's General Purpose Fund. Noting
ample project specific funding, Costa explained that he may have to
eliminate between "15 and 20" positions this year because of
insufficient resources to oversee these slots on the UNODC
management side.
4. (SBU) In a private pull aside, Ambassador expressed US support
for the candidacy of John Sandage (reftel) to be the head of UNODC's
Treaty and Legal division. Costa welcomed this signal, and noted
his own enthusiasm for Sandage's work.
SCHULTE