UNESCAP: May's "High-level" Ministerial to Highlight

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001507

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, EB/IFD/ODF, TSUNAMI TASKFORCE

DEPT FOR OES/PCI, OES/IET/ETC/OA/EGC, IO, IO/EDA:SSTOFEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KUNR OVIP SENV SOCI TPHY ID IN IR FJ TH ESCAP
SUBJECT: UNESCAP: May's "High-level" Ministerial to Highlight
Tsunami Issues


SIPDIS

-- SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY --


1. (SBU) SUMARRY: At the February 24 meeting of UNESCAP's
(United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific) Permanent Representatives, Executive Secretary
Kim Hak-Su announced a High-level Tsunami Panel for the May
12-18 ministerial that would include select prime ministers
of tsunami-affected countries and the UN Special Envoy,
former President Bill Clinton. Rejecting a handful of calls
for a more general panel on natural disasters, Kim argued
that ESCAP would be negligent if it glossed over the tsunami
disaster when ESCAP is the logical regional forum to address
it. We believe that sending a high-ranking US delegation to
the May conference would send a strong message to the region
of our continued long-term commitment in the wake of the
tsunami disaster. End Summary.

SIPDIS


2. (U) Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su announced a new
addition for the ministerial segment of the Commission's
sixty-first annual conference to be held May 12-18, 2005, a
High-level Panel on Tsunami Recovery Development. Mr. Kim
explained that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
had already been invited to sit on the panel, which he
envisioned would include 4-5 high level people, possibly
including Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He announced his intention to
invite Former President Bill Clinton, recently announced UN
Special Envoy for Tsunami-affected Countries by Secretary
General Kofi Annan, to chair the panel.


3. (U) The high level Tsunami panel was generally well
received, though a handful of delegates questioned focusing
exclusively on tsunamis versus having a more general panel on
natural disasters. The Indian Permrep cautioned that with so
many international tsunami meetings scheduled, countries
might begin to experience "meeting fatigue." The Iranian and
Fijian Permreps, noting their countries' vulnerability to
earthquakes and cyclones respectively, also raised the
possibility of a more general disaster panel. Dr. Kim was
unwavering; he explained that the Asian Tsunami had occurred
in the ESCAP region and that the Commission would be
negligent if it did not specifically address the
unprecedented disaster which had occurred in its own
backyard. Kim implied that a general disaster panel missed
the point, the world's attention is on the Asian Tsunami and
ESCAP is the ideal international forum to address it.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Dr. Kim has shown he clearly recognizes
the need to reform ESCAP and make it relevant. We believe
the high-level tsunami panel is a capital idea that can help
raise ESCAP's profile and transform it into an effective and
relevant force in the region. And, we believe that sending a
high-ranking US delegation to the May conference would send a
strong, high visibility message to the region of our
continued long-term commitment in the wake of the tsunami
disaster, and we look forward to working with Washington
agencies in securing high level U.S. participation. We will
continue to provide updates on planning for the May tsunami
conference. End Comment.


Boyce