VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0080 0312349
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 312349Z JAN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1240
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2491

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PARM KTIA UN
SUBJECT: UN REQUESTS USG VIEWS ON PROPOSED CONVENTIONAL 
ARMS TRADE TREATY 
 
¶1.  USUN has received the following diplomatic note dated 16 
January 2007 from the United Nations Department of 
Disarmament Affairs (DDA) requesting Member State input on a 
"comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing 
common international standards for the import, export, and 
transfer conventional arms" as called for in GA resolution 
61/89.  The U.S. voted against this resolution and opposed 
the establishment of a reporting requirement.  DDA has asked 
all Member States for input by 30 April 2007 in order to 
prepare a report for the 62nd GA.  USUN requests instructions 
on how/whether to respond to the DDA request given our 
opposition to the resolution.  Full text of DDA note below. 
 
¶2. BEGIN TEXT 
 
The Department of Disarmament Affairs presents its 
compliments to the Permanent Mission of the United States of 
America to the United Nations and has the honor to refer to 
resolution 61/89 entitled "Towards an arms trade treaty: 
establishing common international standards for the import, 
export, and transfer of conventional arms" adopted by the 
General Assembly on 6 December 2006.  By operative paragraph 
1, the General Assembly: 
 
"Requests the Secretary General to seek the views of Member 
States on the feasibility, scope, and draft parameters for a 
comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common 
international standards for the import, export and transfer 
of conventional arms, and to submit a report on the subject 
to the General Assembly at its sixty second session". 
 
The Department of Disarmament Affairs would be grateful if, 
in preparation of its views, the Permanent Mission's 
Government would consider including information on the 
following: (i) elements of the conventional arms trade that 
should be included in the scope of the envisaged arms trade 
treaty; (ii) principles, guidelines and parameters that 
should govern the international transfer of conventional 
arms; and (iii) any other features that might contribute to 
the development and adoption of an effective arms trade 
treaty. 
 
The Department for Disarmament Affairs would appreciate it if 
the Permanent Mission's Government could communicate its 
views on the subject to the Department by 30 April 2007, so 
as to facilitate issuance of a report in time for 
consideration by the General Assembly. 
 
END TEXT 
WOLFF