date:2005-01-28T04:51:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:05WELLINGTON82
destination:This record is a partial extract of the original cable.
The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000082

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP/RA ETHYN SONTAG, L/NP JULIE HERR, L/LEI DENISE
MANNING, AND EAP/ANP
LONDON FOR EST/EVANS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2015
TAGS: KNNP, KTIA, MNUC, PARM, PREL, PHSA, EWWT, NZ
SUBJECT: U.S. NONPROLIFERATION AMENDMENTS TO THE SUA
CONVENTION: NEW ZEALAND

REF: SECSTATE 14507

Classified By: Acting DCM Katherine Hadda,
For Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

1. (C) Acting DCM conveyed reftel points on the Suppression
of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation
(SUA) to Caroline McDonald, Director of the Disarmament
Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
and Scott Sheeran, an MFAT Legal Advisor. A/DCM said she was
encouraged that both were willing to discuss the issue with
her, as it was important that both legal and substantive
experts take an interest in SUA discussions.

2. (C) McDonald and Sheeran apologized for not knowing in
depth New Zealand's views on the U.S. proposals. McDonald
has monitored the issue but not worked on it directly;
Sheeran just took over the portfolio; and Caroline Bilkie,
the Deputy Director of the MFAT Legal Division who was at the
first SUA meeting, is out of the country until next week.
Sheeran said that he understood that New Zealand is in broad
agreement on the importance of the agreement covering both
state and non-state actors. A/DCM stressed that it was
equally important that the agreement criminalize the knowing
transport of dual use items for use in prohibited weapons,
and said that this proposal was consistent with UNSCR 1540
and other nonproliferation regimes to which New Zealand
belongs.

3. (C) Sheeran and McDonald promised to convey our points to
New Zealand's rep to the Intersessional, Hine-wai Loose, who
covers disarmament issues in Geneva. They noted that Loose's
choice as representative reflects New Zealand's desire to
keep a substantive focus on the talks. Sheeran said he would
advise A/DCM of Loose's views after the discussions next
week.
Swindells