UNHCR: AMBITIOUS AGENDA OUTLINED BY NEW HIGH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 001523 SIPDIS USEU FOR MEZNAR, USUN FOR MALY, POSTS FOR REFCOORDS. ROME FOR FODAG. E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2007 TAGS: PREF UNHCR SUBJECT: UNHCR: AMBITIOUS AGENDA OUTLINED BY NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER REF: A. GENEVA 1380 ¶B. GENEVA 1454 Classified By: AMBASSADOR KEVIN E. MOLEY, 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Moley paid a courtesy call on Antonio Guterres June 14, the eve of Guterres' assumption of post as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR.) On June 17, Guterres met with a larger group in an informal session of UNHCR's Executive Committee (ExCom). In both venues, Guterres came across as energetic, well-briefed on UNHCR issues, and particularly concerned about recent incidents of refoulement (Burundi, Kyrgyzstan, and possibly the Dominican Republic.) In the meeting with Moley, Guterres was dismissive of the short-sightedness and sclerosis of Western European countries and their fear of immigration; he spoke of asylum as a core strength of democracies; and he demonstrated a willingness to engage former high-level colleagues on UNHCR's issues. In the ExCom meeting, Guterres focused on three choices facing the organization: improving transparency; closing the gap between protection and operations as well as between HQ and the field; and clarifying UNHCR's position on internally displaced persons. He raised refugee food needs in both meetings. Guterres is looking forward to his late June trip to New York and Washington. End Summary. Rwanda/Burundi: Puzzling... -------------- -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Guterres expressed frustration at Rwanda and Burundi's bilateral agreement to refoul asylum seekers. He said it was puzzling that things ended so negatively, as initial UNHCR soundings of the two governments (reftels) had been positive. Guterres expressed appreciation for supportive diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and by ECHO's Louis Michel. He placed the blame squarely on President Kagame, saying it was clear he was angry and wanted it solved. He said those refouled probably did not face grave harm, but he promised UNHCR's continued protection efforts nonetheless. He concluded that UNHCR needed to continue to work with both countries. It would strive to maintain working relations while still condemning what had transpired. In his June 17 remarks (and in direct conversation with the Rwandan Ambassador afterwards),he was straightforward in disagreeing with Rwanda's interpretation of events but concluded by expressing appreciation for Rwanda's and Burundi's record as refugee hosts. ...And a Worrying Part of a Trend Against Asylum? -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) More worrying, Guterres said, would be indications that recent events in Burundi, Kyrgyzstan and the Dominican Republic reflected a global weakening of asylum. Guterres acknowledged that the Kyrgyz government had said the refoulement of four Uzbek asylum-seekers shouldn't have happened and had reaffirmed its commitment to the 1951 convention. However, he said the situation there continued to worry UNHCR. In the Dominican Republic, some 4,000 Haitians had been returned in recent days. While Guterres acknowledged most of the Haitians probably were not refugees, he regretted that UNHCR had not been able to establish whether there were unaddressed protection concerns. Discussing democratic values, he asserted that states' security agendas and need to manage border controls were best balanced by strong support for well-administered asylum systems. He added that refugees and asylum seekers in most cases were fleeing non-democratic systems and that UNHCR's work with refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) sometimes made a difference in countries struggling to become democracies. He described as short-sighted many "sclerotic" European countries' refusal to recognize the value of asylum and migration. He asked the U.S. to play a role in mobilizing consciousness and reaffirming the importance of asylum. Upcoming Travel to Uganda, U.S., and Libya -------------- -------------- - ¶4. (C) Guterres confirmed his plan to travel to Uganda for World Refugee Day (June 20.) He will spend a day and night with UNHCR staff in the field, to better understand their working challenges. He has decided against a rumored trip to Addis Ababa, but will attend an African Union (AU) Summit in Tripoli in early July -- primarily to seize the opportunity to meet with a range of African leaders. Sandwiched between these two Africa trips will be a June 27-July 1 U.S. visit. In New York, he will check in with the Secretary-General and other senior UN staff; in Washington, the State Department is his main focus. Thoughts on UNHCR -------------- -- ¶5. (C) Moley commented that UNHCR is looking for stability and leadership. Guterres will find the U.S. a supportive friend, which appreciates hearing about problems and how we can be helpful. Guterres agreed the organization needs stability. There currently are too many "pilots" and "initiatives." He feels the need to address outstanding items, such as a proposal to create an Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, and to stay abreast of the broader UN reform discussion, but he does not intend to launch any new UNHCR initiatives. "The focus must be on consolidation and implementation." ¶6. (C) Guterres said he wanted a transparent and accountable organization. He mentioned ongoing donor/UNHCR consultations about the independence of the Inspector-General (I-G) and said he supported full independence for the I-G and donor access to investigation findings. He said he'd told the I-G he didn't want to give him any instructions; he just wanted reports on results. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Referring to internal debate about what role UNHCR should play with IDPs, Guterres said the organization needed to take a more positive attitude and show a good faith willingness to cooperate within the UN system. However, UNHCR would need to identify additional resources to take on IDP responsibilities and would have to ensure UNHCR's core mandate for refugees was not neglected. Guterres advocated a positive approach to the need for protection. "Devastating" Gaps in Refugee Food -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) Guterres mentioned UNHCR's close collaboration with the World Food Program in trying to meet refugee food needs. He described the system's current incapacity to meet those needs as the most personally disturbing things he is encountering in his new job. It wasn't just a question of nutrition but was directly linked to protection and development concerns. He said he has already discussed needs for more food/money with the European Commission and urged the UK to think about how refugee food needs can be included in the various G-8 and EU Presidency initiatives. He committed to raise the issue in his other introductory meetings (as he did prominently June 17.) Moley and Refugee Counselor welcomed Guterres' early focus on this issue -- one the U.S. has been raising for many months. ¶9. (C) Guterres focused on these same three issues -- internal management, IDPs and food -- in his June 17 remarks to the ExCom. A copy of his remarks has been faxed to PRM/MCE. Moley