US embassy cable - 05CANBERRA331

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000331 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KUNR, AS, UNSC, UNGA 
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA: PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE REPORT OF THE 
UN HIGH LEVEL PANEL ON THREATS, CHALLENGES, AND CHANGE 
 
REF: STATE 21394 
 
1.  (U) Please see action request in para 3. 
 
2.  (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche to relevant Department 
of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) IO staff on February 10 
and discussed matters contained therein at a February 18 
follow up call with UN Executive Officer Lara Nassau.  Nassau 
emphasized DFAT's appreciation for reftel papers and talking 
points but noted that the GOA had not yet formulated its 
response to the Report of the UN Panel on Threats, 
Challenges, and Change.  She perceived "a lot of common 
ground," however, in the U.S. and "not-yet-finalized GOA 
positions, particularly on the use of force."  Nassau also 
saw in the Report's proposal for Security Council (UNSC) 
reform, Option A, an opportunity for the GOA to advance its 
long-standing call for the expansion of the UNSC to include 
Japan, India, Brazil, and African country and possibly 
Indonesia, without the extension of the veto. 
 
3.  (SBU) Switching to the reform of the UN Commission on 
Human Rights, Nassau requested papers articulating the 
rationale behind the USG position on the possible 
universalization of the Commission and related reform issues 
(reftel, para 1).  She also noted that the timely receipt of 
these papers would be a great help to the GOA as it develops 
its own positions during the next few weeks. 
STANTON