VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0650/01 1832154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZDK
O 022154Z JUL 09 (CCY AD856DFE TOQ0305-632)
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6845
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 1151
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000650 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (CH CLASS PARA 10) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ETTC MCAP PGOV PHUM KN UNSC
SUBJECT: DPRK: 1718 COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON DESIGNATIONS, 
PANEL OF EXPERTS, AND PROGRAM OF WORK 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718 
Committee") discussed key tasks to implement resolution 1874, 
including sanctions designations, a draft Program of Work for 
the Committee and the composition of a Panel of Experts to 
assist the Committee in monitoring and improving the 
implementation of sanctions.  China and Russia said they had 
received no guidance from their capitals about the joint 
US/France/UK/Japan designations list;Vietnam requested more 
information justifying the names on the joint 
US/France/UK/Japan designations proposal. 
Libya, Costa Rica and Mexico pointedly stressed the 
importance of equitable geographic distribution on the Panel 
of Experts, while France and Japan urged the Committee to 
move fast and be flexible in establishing this group. In a 
separate meeting with USUN, the Chinese representative asked 
the United States to prioritize its designations list so 
Beijing could review only the "important" ones. END SUMMARY. 
 
DESIGNATIONS 
------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) On July 1, the DPRK Sanctions Committee ("1718 
Committee") considered three tasks called for in resolution 
1874: 1) new sanctions designations by July 12, 2) approving 
a draft Program of Work for the Committee by July 15, and 3) 
establishing a Panel of Experts to help the Committee monitor 
and improve sanctions implementation.  Turkish 
non-proliferation expert Ismail Cobanoglu chaired the meeting 
in the absence of Turkish Perm Rep Baki Ilkin, who is 
preparing to depart New York.  (NOTE: Turkey will continue to 
chair the committee after Ilkin's departure. END NOTE). 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The acting chair noted the joint US/UK/France/Japan 
designations proposal on the table and encouraged Committee 
members to forward any feedback or questions they receive 
from capitals.  The Russian and Chinese representatives 
explained that their capitals were "intensely considering" 
the proposals, but had not given any guidance. The Chinese 
representative anticipated that he would receive guidance by 
next week.  The Vietnamese representative requested from the 
package's co-sponsors further explanation and background 
information about the fifteen individuals proposed for 
designation.  The USUN Sanctions Unit chief said his 
government and the other co-sponsors would seek to assemble 
and share additional information about the designated 
individuals.  (NOTE: USUN understands that Washington may 
provide additional information in the coming days.  The 
circulation of such information to the Committee will buy 
goodwill.  END NOTE). 
 
COMMITTEE PROGRAM OF WORK 
------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Secretariat circulated for the Committee's 
consideration a draft Program of Work (e-mailed to the 
Department of International Organizations) for the 
Committee's endeavors in the coming year.  The Program 
outlined an ambitious agenda of Committee activities to 
support the full implementation of resolution 1874. 
 
¶5.  The Vietnamese and Mexican representatives asked some 
clarifying questions about the Program, including 
explanations about some of these new elements that had not 
appeared in resolution 1874.  The chair replied that the 
Secretariat had sought to include elements from the 
activities of other UN sanctions committees (e.g., provisions 
for the chair and members of the Committee to travel to 
countries to discuss sanctions implementation).  The Russian 
representative questioned a proposal to have the Committee 
specify the definition of "small arms and light weapons," 
which are exempt from resolution 1874's ban on arms transfers 
to the DPRK.  He questioned whether the Committee had the 
capacity to specify such a definition, adding that papers 
already exist to clarify the definition of small arms. 
 
PANEL OF EXPERTS 
---------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The acting chair explained that conversations were 
continuing on how best to establish the UN Panel of Experts 
(POE) for the DPRK, which would be responsible for monitoring 
and making recommendations to improve sanctions 
implementation.  The Libyan, Mexican, and Costa Rican 
representatives all pointedly stressed the importance of 
equitable geographic distribution on the POE.  The Libyan 
representative favored the idea of sending a Note Verbale to 
all Member States to solicit possible candidates.  He said 
this would be the best way to achieve a diverse and competent 
group of experts.  The Libyan representative further stated 
that the process should be transparent and that a more open 
PANEL OF EXPERTS, AND PROGRAM OF WORK 
 
nomination process could lead to final approval of candidates 
"within a week." The Mexican representative stated that 
equitable geographic distribution, along with 
multi-lingualism, was an essential principle of the United 
Nations. The Costa Rican representative acknowledged that 
this process should be expeditious, but stressed the 
importance of geographic, gender and language diversity. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The French representative recommended that the 
Committee move quickly and remain flexible.  He pointed to an 
open nominating process in the 1540 Committee that resulted 
in many months of delay.  The French representative added 
that not all panels had "perfect equitable geographic 
distribution" and stated that Libya's idea to send a Note 
Verbale and conclude a nomination process within a week was 
unrealistic. The Japanese representative explained the 
Committee should be more focused on  the competence of the 
experts and reminded the Committee that resolution 1874 had 
requested a first report from the POE within ninety days of 
the resolution's adoption (i.e., by September 12). 
 
¶8. (SBU) Loraine Rickard-Martin, the senior Secretariat 
official in charge of supporting the Committee, stated that 
some Member States had already spontaneously expressed an 
interest in submitting candidates.  These candidates, she 
explained would be added to the Secretariat's roster of 
experts.  Rickard-Martin emphasized that the Secretariat 
welcomed the submission of candidates by any delegation. The 
acting chair explained that he would "intensify his 
consultations" with the Secretariat to look at past Committee 
experiences so as to decide which steps should follow. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Committee will next meet on Monday July 6 to 
discuss the next steps on the POW, POE and the designations 
list. 
 
CHINA ON DESIGNATIONS, PROGRAM OF WORK 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Immediately after the Committee meeting, the Chinese 
representative requested to meet with USUN privately to 
discuss next steps on designations.  He claimed that Beijing 
would not be able to review all of the individuals, entities 
and goods in the joint designations package in time for the 
deadline.  Therefore, the Chinese representative said China 
would like the United States to prioritize its designations 
list so that Beijing could consider only the "important" 
proposals.  USUN said that all of the proposed targets were 
important to the United States and requested that Beijing 
identify as soon as possible any names on the list that may 
be problematic.  The Chinese representative also predicted 
that Beijing would have problems with the Program of Work, 
which he said was ambitious. 
 
RICE