Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA54
2009-02-06 15:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
UNVIE
Cable title:  

GUIDANCE DELIVERED ON UNGASS REVIEW NEGOTIATIONS

Tags:  AORC KCRM PREL SNAR AU UN 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0054 0371543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061543Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8995
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000054 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KCRM PREL SNAR AU UN
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE DELIVERED ON UNGASS REVIEW NEGOTIATIONS

REF: STATE 10859

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000054

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KCRM PREL SNAR AU UN
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE DELIVERED ON UNGASS REVIEW NEGOTIATIONS

REF: STATE 10859


1. (U) This is an action request, see para 6.



2. (SBU) Per reftel instructions, Charge delivered verbatim
reftel points to CND chairperson Namibian Ambassador Selma
Ashipala-Musavyi on USG support for needle exchange programs
as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce HIV/AIDS. Per
reftel, Charge also explained to Ashipala that the USG would
not want to see the term "harm reduction" in the UNGASS
review political declaration and related documents.


3. (SBU) Ashipala thanked the Charge for the information.
She told him that she did not expect to see the "harm
reduction" term in either the political declaration or the
action plan, because there are other delegations who have a
strong position against the term. She proposed to have the
chair (Iran) of the UNGASS review action plan resume
informal-informal negotiations on this subject. At
Counselor's request, Ashipala agreed to have those
negotiations resume next Wednesday, February 11.


4. (SBU) A number of countries, notably Russia, Japan,
Colombia and India, are opposed to "harm reduction," and have
spoken up against the term in negotiating sessions. Russia,
which rejects all elements of "harm reduction," including
needle exchange and substitution treatment, has made forceful
interventions against the term. Russia has told us that its
opposition would ensure there would be no consensus on "harm
reduction." Japan is also against needle exchange.


5. (SBU) Mission will meet with these delegations to seek
to persuade them to accept the USG position on needle
exchange and medication-assisted treatment.


6. (U) Action Requested: Mission requests Department
guidance on specific language we may seek in the declaration
and action plan documents regarding our support for needle
exchange and medication-assisted therapy.
PYATT