Cablegate: 2010 Conference On Disarmament - Cd President Considering

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGV #0006/01 0571225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 261224Z FEB 10
FM USMISSION CD GENEVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0254
INFO GENEVA CD COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION CD GENEVA
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS CD GENEVA 000006

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM CDG MNUC
SUBJECT: 2010 CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT - CD PRESIDENT CONSIDERING
"TWO-TRACK" APPROACH

REF: 10 CD GENEVA 4

1. (SBU) Summary: CD President Ambassador Khvostov (Belarus)
announced his two-track approach during the February 22 Regional
Coordinators/P6 meeting, which involves tabling a draft Program of
Work that combines the Program of Work adopted in 2009 (CD/1864
with elements of CD/1870) together with appointing coordinators to
lead informal discussions on the CD's seven agenda items. The
United States received positive feedback on its Concept Paper (for
focused discussions on elements of a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty
(FMCT)) from Western states and others but was requested to
consider how and when to initiate such discussions and how these
sessions would be perceived by others. Several WEOG states
questioned the effectiveness of the CD President's approach as the
proposed informal discussions appear similar to those held in 2007
and 2008. During the CD plenary, Brazilian CD Ambassador Macedo
Soares refuted Pakistan's statement (Ref) and urged the CD to
start negotiating FMCT issues. End Summary.

February 22 REGIONAL COORDINATOR MEETING

2. (SBU) During the February 22 Regional Coordinators meeting, CD
President Ambassador Khvostov introduced his plans to implement a
two-track approach within the CD during his term. This proposal
would include tabling a working paper based on CD/1864 and CD/1870
(the adopted 2009 Program of Work and its proposed plan for
implementation, respectively) as a basis for adopting a Program of
Work. Ambassador Khvostov also plans, in his capacity as CD
President, to schedule informal discussions led by coordinators
from member states to discuss the CD's seven agenda items. (Note:
Under CD rules and precedent, the scheduling of plenary sessions
and the appointment of coordinators for discussions on particular
agenda items are CD Presidential prerogatives, not subject to
decision by the CD. End note.) US deloff was privately informed by
Belarus subsequently that Switzerland has agreed to coordinate FMCT
discussions, and Sweden will coordinate discussions on negative
security assurances (NSAs). Before elements of this approach are
introduced during the CD plenary, President Khvostov will continue
his consultations with regional groups and possible coordinator
delegations.

3. (SBU) The United States, as coordinator of WEOG (Western
European and Others Group), reiterated the group's position that
the 2010 draft Program of Work should be based on CD/1864. The
United States also noted its concept paper on organizing
supplemental activity to inform the FMCT discussions during the
meeting. The G21 requested to hold consultations with the CD
President, which are now scheduled for March 3.

February 24 weog meeting

4. (SBU) WEOG discussions focused on both the CD President's
two-track approach and on the US Concept Paper introduced during
last week's WEOG meeting. WEOG states only received the draft
Program of Work after the WEOG meeting. On the proposal for
renewed informal discussions in the CD, several states underscored
the need for such discussions to be more substantive than their
predecessors in 2007 and 2008. Pertaining to the Concept Paper
introduced during last week's WEOG meeting, delegations from Spain
(for the EU), Canada, Italy, Belgium, Korea, Switzerland, Japan,
France, Israel, Argentina and Australia noted their support for the
proposed supplemental sessions. Switzerland suggested that the
concept paper (including the sub-chair structure) could be folded
into the informal plenary discussions proposed by the CD President,
at the initiative of the discussion coordinator. (As noted earlier,
the US del subsequently was informed by Belarus that it selected
Switzerland to coordinate the CD's informal plenary discussions on
FMCT.) A WEOG consensus developed that the supplemental approach
should not be characterized as a third "parallel track" and should
be pursued so as to be consistent with full support for the
earliest adoption of a formal CD Program of Work, with several
delegations noting the need for a few weeks' time to mobilize
expert participation and the desire for discussions to not
interfere with NPT RevCon preparations, which would preclude a
substantive event before the March 26 CD adjournment.
"TWO-TRACK" APPROACH

5. (SBU) Separately, US deloff met with Pakistani CD deputy Aftab
Khokher on February 25 at the latter's request. Khokher raised, at
the direction of Islamabad, several questions on the U.S. Concept
Paper, concerning the structure of the sessions, the proposal for
UNIDIR sponsorship, participation in the sessions, and the status
of outcome papers. Deloff's responses also stressed that the USG's
goal remains the commencement of FMCT negotiations, a step which
incidentally would also obviate Pakistan's concerns with the U.S.
Concept Paper.

6. (SBU) South Korean Ambassador Im asked for input from WEOG
member delegations regarding the rationale and possible arguments
against Pakistan's statements made during last week's February 18
Plenary (ref). Japan interpreted the statement as a way of
provoking CD member states to focus on counter-arguments rather
than making substantive progress to move forward, noting that
Ambassador Akram responded to every delegation's statements
concerning his earlier interventions. Canada and Austria agreed
with the Japanese interpretation, stating that picking apart last
week's Pakistani statement simply supports Pakistan's delaying
tactics.

FEBRUARY 25 PLENARY

7. (U) Brazilian CD Ambassador Macedo Soares delivered a
well-received statement which refuted the arguments against
beginning "negotiations on fissile materials." Brazil pointedly
stated that the CD cannot let the politics of individual states
block forward progress. He said that "the principle of equal
security for all points to a collective goal. An international
system restricted to individual concerns is not sustainable."
Nigerian Ambassador Uhomoibhi, in his final plenary appearance,
expressed his hopes of the CD progressing forward, noting that
there had been no progress during his three year tenure.

8. (U) The CD President, Ambassador Khvostov, stated his plans to
carry on with consultations and did not mention the two-track
approach which was discussed in the Regional Coordinators/P6
meeting.

LATIN AMERICAN COORDINATION IN THE CD

9. (SBU) Colombia told U.S. deloff February 25 that Colombia had
hosted an inaugural meeting of Latin American CD states on February
24 as there is growing Latin dissatisfaction with the "least common
denominator" approach that now characterizes the G21 (Non-Aligned
Movement). Colombia emphasized that Venezuela and Cuba also share
the Latin sense of dissatisfaction. It is the Latin intent to meet
at least once a month, but they do not intend to set up a new
formal regional group, while aiming to ameliorate the common G21
statements in the CD.
LARSON

© Scoop Media