Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS2483
2005-04-12 16:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

GOF WEIGHING RESPONSE TO UNRWA EMERGENCY APPEAL,

Tags:  PREF KPAL PREL FR EUN 
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121628Z Apr 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002483 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/ANE-ROBERT WARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015
TAGS: PREF KPAL PREL FR EUN
SUBJECT: GOF WEIGHING RESPONSE TO UNRWA EMERGENCY APPEAL,
BUT CONTRIBUTION LIKELY TO BE MODEST

REF: STATE 65023

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002483

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/ANE-ROBERT WARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015
TAGS: PREF KPAL PREL FR EUN
SUBJECT: GOF WEIGHING RESPONSE TO UNRWA EMERGENCY APPEAL,
BUT CONTRIBUTION LIKELY TO BE MODEST

REF: STATE 65023

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This message contains an action request for Washington
in para 4.


2. (C) We discussed reftel talking points on the 2005 UNRWA
emergency appeal with MFA action officer for UN/Middle East
issues Alice Guitton April 12, urging a sizable French
contribution to help alleviate Palestinian refugees'
difficult humanitarian situation. Guitton stressed that the
GoF fully shared U.S. concerns on increased poverty among
Palestinians, and commended the U.S. effort to broaden the
international donor base to UNRWA, particularly among GCC
countries. At the same time, while the GoF had not made a
final decision on contributing to the 2005 emergency appeal,
Guitton suggested that a sizable GoF contribution was
unlikely. She stressed that the GoF contribution to the
UNRWA regular budget had nearly doubled since 2004, with
France contributing 5 million euros so far in 2005 to the
regular budget, compared to 3 million euros in 2004. The
2005 French regular budget contribution would likely increase
beyond 5 million euros, with an expected project addressing
Palestinian children's health. According to Guitton, it was
unrealistic to expect that the French contribution to the
UNRWA emergency appeal would be comparable to the regular
budget contribution, particularly in a year in which the
French regular budget contribution had increased
considerably. Guitton also stressed that France contributed
a significant percentage of the European Commission regular
budget contribution to UNRWA, which she said was comparable
to that of the U.S. in 2004.


3. (C) Guitton noted further that UNRWA emergency appeals
often came late in the GoF budgetary planning cycle and past
the point at which GoF funds for the UN had already been
exhausted, limiting the GoF's ability to respond. The GoF
faced a similar situation in 2004, when its contributions to
the UNRWA emergency appeal for that year were limited to
about 450,000 euros. For this reason, the GoF had appealed
to UNRWA to implement reforms which would minimize the
shortfalls in the regular budget, better mobilize donors, and
improve its mid-term and long-range planning capacity, to
lessen reliance on emergency appeals.


4. (C) In closing, Guitton asked whether the U.S. had taken a
position on candidates for the next UNRWA Commissioner
General (ComGen),expressing hope that SYG Annan would make a
decision soon. Guitton clarified that the GoF wanted to see
a European candidate take the position, but had not endorsed
a particular person. She added that the naming of a new
ComGen would be important to maintaining momentum on
reforming UNRWA and would alleviate Palestinian concerns on
the direction of the organization. At the same time, she
conceded, SYG Annan's intentions were unclear as was the
number of potential candidates. Guitton clarified that the
GoF did not have a candidate for the slot, as it already had
enough contenders in other UN positions. Action request:
please provide guidance on U.S. views on candidates for UNRWA
DG, or indicate whether the U.S. has a preference for a
particular candidate or nationality. End action request.

LEACH