UNVIE Registers U.S. Intent on UNCITRAL with WEOG Chair

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000399 DEPT FOR IO/T, EB/IFT/ODF AND L/PIL EMBASSIES FOR ECON/POL SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ECIN ETRD PREL UN UNCITRAL SUBJECT: UNVIE Registers U.S. Intent on UNCITRAL with WEOG Chair REF: SECSTATE 84622 ¶1. Per reftel action request, on August 24 UNA officers raised the issue of U.S. reelection to the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) with Harry Macdonald, from the United Kingdom (UK) Permanent Mission, which is current WEOG Chair in Vienna. UNA officers previewed our intent to retain a seat at UNCITRAL and to seek agreement within WEOG to for an uncontested race. UK said that no other WEOG members had yet raised the issue or indicated an interest in seeking an elected seat. Pursuant to UK's request, UNVIE sent an email formally notifying the WEOG of the U.S. position. UK promised to begin process of coordinating among WEOG members, including consultations to determine whether WEOG members will agree to constrain the number of candidates to the group's allocated slots. ¶2. UNVIE will continue to engage with WEOG chair and members regarding potential candidacies and the possibility of WEOG coordination on a consensus slate. PYATT