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DE RUEHC #0491 3311601
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O 271550Z NOV 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 160491 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC UN UNGA SOCI
SUBJECT: REVISED INSTRUCTIONS -- WSSD RESOLUTION. 
 
REF: STATE 159204. 
 
¶1.  State 159204 was an instruction cable, sent on November 
21, on the G-77/China resolution "On the Implementation of 
the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of 
the Twenty-Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly." 
This cable supplements those instructions. 
 
¶2.  Paragraphs of concern. 
 
-- OP 14 and OP 14 bis.  Israel could not accept wording in 
an earlier draft related to the issues of foreign occupation 
and terrorism, and had declared its intention to call for a 
vote and vote NO on the entire resolution.  In the November 
12 version of the resolution, the latest one available, the 
pertinent paragraphs are OP 14 and OP 14 bis. 
 
As of the evening of November 26, Israel, the chair, and 
other interested delegations are still in intense discussions 
to try to arrive at wording which could dissuade Israel from 
calling for a vote. 
 
-- OP 29.  In addition, OP 29 of the resolution "Urges 
developed countries that have not yet done so in accordance 
with their commitment, to make concrete efforts towards 
meeting the targets of 0.7 percent of their GNP for ODA to 
developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 percent of their GNP to 
LDCs, and encourages developing countries to build on the 
progress achieved in ensuring that ODA is used effectively to 
help meet development goals and targets." 
 
The U.S. had argued unsuccessfully to remove the word 
"meeting" from this paragraph because it represents a 
substantive change in agreed language on ODA. 
 
¶3.  Instructions for USUN. 
 
A)  If by the time of action Israel's concerns on the 
resolution are not satisfied and they call for a vote on the 
entire resolution, USDEL should follow the instructions in 
State 159204 and vote NO along with Israel.  Points for an 
Explanation of Vote are contained both in that cable and 
below. 
 
B)  Alternatively, if by the time of action compromise 
wording has been arrived at that Israel can accept and which 
dissuades them from calling for a vote on the resolution as a 
whole, 
Mission is instructed to join consensus on the WSSD 
resolution with an EOP, drawing from the points below. 
 
BEGIN POINTS for an EOV or EOP. 
 
-- The United States regrets that this resolution on the 
World Summit for Sustainable Development, which has until now 
not contained any references to foreign occupation, has 
become politicized by the inclusion of that term.  The term 
is widely recognized to signify a position on an extremely 
controversial issue, one that should not taint Third 
Committee deliberations. 
 
-- The U.S. also takes issue with the use of committee 
resolutions such as these to rework and redefine the 
development language that was so carefully negotiated in 
Monterrey.  Well-meaning sponsors of an expanded vocabulary 
unwittingly undermine the consensus that allowed donors to 
commit to increasing their Official Development Assistance 
(ODA).  The addition of the verb "meeting" in OP 29 to 
describe the 0.7 percent of GNP for ODA as an MDG target is a 
case in point. 
 
-- While the U.S. has more than doubled its ODA since the 
Monterrey summit, we believe that a narrow focus on ODA 
overlooks other vital sources of financing for development. 
Numerous studies have shown that other international 
financing sources, such as private investment flows, 
remittances, and private philanthropy, dwarf ODA. According 
to recent World Bank statistics, a staggering $647 billion in 
private investment capital alone flowed into developing 
countries in 2006. 
 
-- ODA, when applied strategically and effectively in areas 
such as governance, health and education, and free-market 
reform can leverage critical changes that are vital for 
societies' long-term growth and attract foreign investment. 
By contrast, an obsession with ODA to the exclusion of these 
essential financing and policy factors undermines previously 
agreed international consensus on generating global economic 
growth and development.  Incessant maneuvering and 
word-smithing around the 0.7 percent target is a case in 
point.  It neither addresses critical governance and 
effectiveness issues, nor the specific needs of its 
recipients. 
 
 
END POINTS. 
RICE