Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05AMMAN471
2005-01-19 16:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
GUIDANCE REQUEST FOR UNRWA ADVISORY COMMISSION
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 000471
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR PRM, IO, NEA AND L
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV KPAL IS JO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST FOR UNRWA ADVISORY COMMISSION
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
REF: 04 AMMAN 8809
UNCLAS AMMAN 000471
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR PRM, IO, NEA AND L
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV KPAL IS JO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST FOR UNRWA ADVISORY COMMISSION
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
REF: 04 AMMAN 8809
1. (U) This message has been cleared by Consulate General
Jerusalem, and contains a request for Department guidance in
advance of a January 24 extraordinary meeting of UNRWA's
Advisory Commission.
2. (SBU) UNRWA has requested an extraordinary meeting of its
Advisory Commission (AdCom) in Amman on Monday, January 24.
It is asking the 10-member UNGA-mandated body to decide
whether UNRWA should break with its internal staff
regulations, and past UN practice, in order to permit its
local staff to stand in municipal elections in Gaza and the
West Bank without resigning their UNRWA appointments.
BACKGROUND
--------------
3. (SBU) In accordance with its area staff regulations and
personnel directives, UNRWA distributed a memorandum to all
Gaza and the West Bank Field employees on January 6 informing
any UNRWA staff members who intended to stand as candidates
in municipal council elections that they would need to submit
their resignation no later than the day they presented their
nomination papers. The memorandum continued to note "If
those who resign in order to run for office are not elected,
promptly submitted applications for reinstatement will be
regarded sympathetically, but there can be no guarantee of
reinstatement." While 13 local staff intending to run in the
first round of municipal elections in Gaza on January 27 have
complied with these regulations, 21 others are protesting.
According to UNRWA, several "prominent Palestinian public
figures and officials" have taken up their cause, asserting
that UNRWA's requirement is "contrary to PA law," that the
municipal council positions are "non-political in nature,"
and that UNRWA is effectively removing a talented pool of
candidates from public service, as the municipal councilor
positions are unpaid. (NOTE: Refcoord has faxed PRM/ANE a
full background note prepared by UNRWA's External Relations
and Legal Affairs Departments, which contains a copy of Law
no. (22) of 1997 concerning local elected bodies. END NOTE.)
4. (SBU) UNRWA's Legal Affairs Department notes that the UN
has required its locally-recruited staff to resign their
posts in similar situations (e.g., Afghanistan, East Timor,
KOSOVO). However, senior UNRWA officials argue privately
that the unions who represent UNRWA's 12,500
locally-recruited staff in Gaza and the West Bank will not be
persuaded by that argument, as the UN has authorized UNRWA to
follow a unique approach to other issues -- or example, the
UN's decision to employ UNRWA staff at a lower pay scale than
other locally-recruited staff working in the region for other
UN agencies. These UNRWA officials believe that these staff
unions, which are highly politicized, will call for a strike
similar to the one that paralyzed the Agency's West Bank
operations this fall (reftel). UNRWA Deputy ComGen Karen Abu
Zayd told Refcoord January 19 that PLO Refugee Affairs
Department Head Dr. Zakaria al Agha is advocating strongly in
favor of allowing UNRWA staff to retain their positions while
holding elected office, and will likely press UNRWA to
reverse its position at Monday's meeting.
5. (SBU) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: UNRWA has indicated that
it will not/not advocate for a particular position at the
extraordinary meeting, fearing that openly opposing the PLO
will induce its unions to strike. We have been unable to
reach Jordan's new Department of Palestinian (DPA) DG (who
will chair Monday's meeting) due to the Eid holidays and are
uncertain what tact he intends to take. Given his
inexperience, we suspect he will be inclined to leave any
decision to the remaining AdCom members. Posts seek
Department guidance. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST.
6. (U) UNRWA Advisory Commission: Jordan (current Chair),
Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK and
U.S. The PLO also attends Commission meetings as an observer.
HALE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR PRM, IO, NEA AND L
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV KPAL IS JO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUEST FOR UNRWA ADVISORY COMMISSION
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
REF: 04 AMMAN 8809
1. (U) This message has been cleared by Consulate General
Jerusalem, and contains a request for Department guidance in
advance of a January 24 extraordinary meeting of UNRWA's
Advisory Commission.
2. (SBU) UNRWA has requested an extraordinary meeting of its
Advisory Commission (AdCom) in Amman on Monday, January 24.
It is asking the 10-member UNGA-mandated body to decide
whether UNRWA should break with its internal staff
regulations, and past UN practice, in order to permit its
local staff to stand in municipal elections in Gaza and the
West Bank without resigning their UNRWA appointments.
BACKGROUND
--------------
3. (SBU) In accordance with its area staff regulations and
personnel directives, UNRWA distributed a memorandum to all
Gaza and the West Bank Field employees on January 6 informing
any UNRWA staff members who intended to stand as candidates
in municipal council elections that they would need to submit
their resignation no later than the day they presented their
nomination papers. The memorandum continued to note "If
those who resign in order to run for office are not elected,
promptly submitted applications for reinstatement will be
regarded sympathetically, but there can be no guarantee of
reinstatement." While 13 local staff intending to run in the
first round of municipal elections in Gaza on January 27 have
complied with these regulations, 21 others are protesting.
According to UNRWA, several "prominent Palestinian public
figures and officials" have taken up their cause, asserting
that UNRWA's requirement is "contrary to PA law," that the
municipal council positions are "non-political in nature,"
and that UNRWA is effectively removing a talented pool of
candidates from public service, as the municipal councilor
positions are unpaid. (NOTE: Refcoord has faxed PRM/ANE a
full background note prepared by UNRWA's External Relations
and Legal Affairs Departments, which contains a copy of Law
no. (22) of 1997 concerning local elected bodies. END NOTE.)
4. (SBU) UNRWA's Legal Affairs Department notes that the UN
has required its locally-recruited staff to resign their
posts in similar situations (e.g., Afghanistan, East Timor,
KOSOVO). However, senior UNRWA officials argue privately
that the unions who represent UNRWA's 12,500
locally-recruited staff in Gaza and the West Bank will not be
persuaded by that argument, as the UN has authorized UNRWA to
follow a unique approach to other issues -- or example, the
UN's decision to employ UNRWA staff at a lower pay scale than
other locally-recruited staff working in the region for other
UN agencies. These UNRWA officials believe that these staff
unions, which are highly politicized, will call for a strike
similar to the one that paralyzed the Agency's West Bank
operations this fall (reftel). UNRWA Deputy ComGen Karen Abu
Zayd told Refcoord January 19 that PLO Refugee Affairs
Department Head Dr. Zakaria al Agha is advocating strongly in
favor of allowing UNRWA staff to retain their positions while
holding elected office, and will likely press UNRWA to
reverse its position at Monday's meeting.
5. (SBU) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: UNRWA has indicated that
it will not/not advocate for a particular position at the
extraordinary meeting, fearing that openly opposing the PLO
will induce its unions to strike. We have been unable to
reach Jordan's new Department of Palestinian (DPA) DG (who
will chair Monday's meeting) due to the Eid holidays and are
uncertain what tact he intends to take. Given his
inexperience, we suspect he will be inclined to leave any
decision to the remaining AdCom members. Posts seek
Department guidance. END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST.
6. (U) UNRWA Advisory Commission: Jordan (current Chair),
Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK and
U.S. The PLO also attends Commission meetings as an observer.
HALE