US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB366

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000366 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC, PARM, PREL, HR, UNDC, CDG 
SUBJECT: CROATIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON UNDC 
 
REF: STATE 39091 
 
1.  POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL TO DRAZEN HRASTIC, HEAD OF THE 
COOPERATIVE SECURITY AND ARMS CONTROL AT THE MINISTRY OF 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ON FEBRUARY 25.  ON FEBRUARY 27, HRASTIC 
PROVIDED US WITH THE NON-PAPER RESPONSE IN PARA 2 SUPPORTING 
THE U.S. POSITION.  HRASTIC SAID THAT THE CROATIAN MISSION TO 
    THE UN HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SUPPORT THE U.S. POSITION USING 
THE SAME NON-PAPER. 
 
2.  BEGIN TEXT CROATIA NON-PAPER: 
 
A.  CROATIA IS FOLLOWING WITH MARKED INTEREST MANY EXISTING 
PROPOSALS FOR ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND STREAMLINING 
THE WORK OF UNITED NATIONS DISARMAMENT BODIES, INCLUDING THE 
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,S FIRST COMMITTEE, THE CONFERENCE ON 
DISARMAMENT IN GENEVA AS WELL AS THE UNITED NATIONS 
DISARMAMENT COMMISSION. 
 
B.  CROATIA WAS AMONG THE CO-SPONSORS OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
RESOLUTION 58/41 ON THE REFORM OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE. 
 
C.  WITH REGARD TO THE UN DISARMAMENT COMMISSION (UNDC), 
CROATIA HAS GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO PROPOSALS ON 
REFORM OF AND STRENGTHENING THE WORKING METHODS OF THE UNDC, 
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW SECURITY THREATS OF THE 2LST 
CENTURY. CROATIA ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE WORK OF THE 
UNDC, GIVEN ITS ROLE AS A UNIVERSAL MULTILATERAL BODY IN THE 
FIELD OF DISARMAMENT. 
 
D.  CROATIA EXPRESSED ITS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE UNDC,S 
FAILURE TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS AT ITS MEETING IN 2003. CROATIA 
REGRETS THAT THE REASONS WHICH LED TO THIS FAILURE HAVE NOT 
YET BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. 
 
E.  CROATIA IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN 
CONSULTATIONS ON CONFIRMING TWO AGENDA ITEMS FOR THIS YEAR,S 
SESSION OF THE UNDC, IN LINE WITH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
    RESOLUTION 58/67. 
 
F.  GIVEN THE OPPOSING VIEWS ON WHICH ITEMS SHOULD BE 
INCLUDED ON THE UNDC AGENDA, CROATIA CAN IN PRINCIPLE SUPPORT 
THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE NON-PAPER PRESENTED BY THE 
DELEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES ON DEVOTING THIS YEAR,S 
SESSION OF THE UNDC TO AN APPRAISAL OF THE UNUC ITSELF. 
CROATIA REMAINS HOPEFUL THAT THIS PROPOSAL CAN GAIN 
CONSENSUAL SUPPORT IN THE UNDC. 
 
G.  CROATIA WELCOMES ALL PROPOSALS WHICH AIM TO FACILITATE 
THE WORK OF THE UNDC. CROATIA BELIEVES THAT FAILURE TO ATTAIN 
AGREEMENT ON AN AGENDA FOR THE UNDC IN 2004 WILL HAVE A 
NEGATIVE IMPACT NOT ONLY FOR THE FUTURE WORK OF THE UNDC, BUT 
ALSO OTHER UNITED NATIONS DISARMAMENT BODIES. 
 
H.  CROATIA SHALL CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN 
PURSUING AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION TO THESE ABOVE MENTIONED 
QUESTIONS.  END TEXT NON-PAPER. 
FRANK 
 
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