Cablegate: New Zealand Supports Avm Convention

VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWL #0843 3032359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 302359Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3428
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0475
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0048
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0076

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000843

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR L (BETTAUER), IO/UNP AND EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MCAP PARM PREL NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND SUPPORTS AVM CONVENTION

REF: STATE 168629

1. (SBU) PE Couns shared reftel demarche on the 2006
Convention on Conventional Weapons Review Conference with
Caroline McDonald, Director of the Disarmament Division at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). McDonald
said that New Zealand is supportive of a strong,
legally-binding protocol on Anti-Vehicle Mines, and would
study our points carefully.

2. (SBU) McDonald also sent PE Couns a copy of New Zealand's
statement at the thematic debate on conventional weapons at
the UNGA 61 First Committee. The statement says New Zealand
would welcome the conclusion of an instrument on mines other
than anti-personnel mines, if a legally binding text could be
agreed that made a credible improvement on existing
humanitarian law provisions. The statement says that GNZ
"does not see that this requirement could be satisfied by the
conclusion of a text which carried optional provisions on the
key issues of detectability and active life."
McCormick

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