AMB. TAHIR-KHELI'S VISIT PRODUCES IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 004083

SIPDIS

FOR SECRETARY RICE, FOR U/S BURNS, FOR AMB. BOLTON, AND FOR
A/S SILVERBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015
TAGS: KUNR IT UNGA
SUBJECT: AMB. TAHIR-KHELI'S VISIT PRODUCES IMMEDIATE
RESULTS ON UN REFORM


Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Spogli for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. Amb. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Senior Advisor to
the Secretary of State on UN Reform, had meetings with
Italian FM Gianfranco Fini, senior MFA officials, and senior
officials in PM Berlusconi's office December 12 and 13.
Amb. Tahir-Kheli highlighted U.S. reform priorities, stressed
the need for action on key reform issues, especially
Management Reform, in the next two weeks, and encouraged
Italy to speak out on the importance and urgency of UN Reform
efforts. FM Fini wrote a front page op-ed on the subject
published in La Stampa the day after his meeting with Amb.
Tahir-Kheli. MFA and Chigi officials confirmed Italy's
commitment to meaningful UN Reform, voiced agreement with the
U.S. priorities of Management Reform, establishing a Human
Rights Council, and creating a Peacebuilding Commission, and
offered to support U.S. efforts to enact reform by the end of
the year through bilateral engagement with the Maghreb and
Africa. End Summary.


2. (U) December 12, Amb. Tahir-Kheli, accompanied by her
deputy, Jane Cowley, Pol M/C David Pearce, and poloff, met
with PM Berlusconi's Deputy Diplomatic Advisor Francesco Talo
and Counselor Marco Carnelos. December 13, Amb. Tahir-Kheli
and Amb. Ronald Spogli, accompanied by poloff, met with
Italian FM Fini. Amb. Tahir-Kheli then met with MFA Director
General for Political and Multilateral Affairs Giulio Terzi
(who flew in to Rome for twelve hours in order to meet with
Amb. Tahir-Kheli),UN Coordinator Alessandro Busacca, U/S for
Human Rights Boniver's Chief of Staff Rosa Anna Coniglio, and
Office Director of the Counter-terrorism Policy Unit
Giampaolo Cantini, accompanied by Cowley and poloff.

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Management Reform
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3. (C) In each of her meetings, Amb. Tahir-Kheli stressed
Secretary Rice's commitment to achieving real progress on

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Management Reform before the end of the year, noting in
particular U.S. concerns with the lack of accountability,
ethics, and independent oversight in the current
organization. FM Fini responded that Italy did not want to
focus only on UNSC reform, but shared Sec. Rice's view of the
importance of wider reform. When Amb. Tahir-Kheli encouraged
Italy to speak out bilaterally on UN Reform, FM Fini
responded that this would not be a problem--Italy had taken
the position that UN Reform was important and would continue
to hold it. FM Fini wrote a front page op-ed on Italian UN
involvement and commitment to reform, published in La Stampa
the day after his meeting with Amb. Tahir-Kheli. The article
specifically mentions management, human rights, and
peacebuilding as top Italian priorities for reform, ahead of
further debate on UNSC expansion. DG Terzi also pledged to
send bilateral demarches to Italian Embassies in the Maghreb
and Africa in support of UN Reform. On Management Reform, DG
Terzi expressed Italy's support for expanded authority for
the UN Secretary General and was optimistic that Mandate
Review was an issue that could be agreed upon quickly in
principle, even if implementation might take more time. Amb.
Tahir-Kheli also made the point that Management Reform was a
critical issue for Sec. Rice in her meeting with Min. Talo.
He noted that Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi was also very
supportive of UN Reform.

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Human Rights Council
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4. (C) FM Fini agreed with Amb. Tahir-Kheli's point that the
current Commission for Human Rights served to protect human
rights violators and that a new Human Rights Council must do
more than simply change the name of the Commission. She also
noted the U.S. position that a two-thirds majority vote for
membership could keep most bad actors off of the Council. FM
Fini agreed and noted that a long-term solution to election
problems would be to increase the number of democracies in
the world. Subsequently, Min. Coniglio affirmed that Italy,
along with the EU, supports a two-thirds majority vote for
membership. Drawing from the U.S. Top Ten Priorities for the
Human Rights Council paper, Min. Coniglio noted that Italy
was concerned there would be a "protection gap" if the
Commission did not meet next year and the Council was not yet
up and running. She proposed a final meeting of the
Commission in that case. Echoing the EU position, Min.
Coniglio noted that Italy supported more than 30 members for
the Council and did not support a threshold for membership
(although the EU would not block a final agreement if
membership for sanctioned countries were the only point of
disagreement),instead favoring a formal signed statement by
would-be members affirming their commitment to protect human
rights. Amb. Tahir-Kheli said she would take the point back
to Washington. Min. Coniglio also expressed some doubt that
a final agreement on the Council could be worked out in the
next two weeks, although she said the current draft was an
improvement. In response to Amb. Tahir-Kheli's call for a
strong Human Rights Council, Min. Talo noted Italy's concern
that development and security issues must be dealt with
alongside other UN Reform issues (including Management and
Peacebuilding).

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Peacebuilding Commission
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5. (C) Amb. Tahir-Kheli highlighted the U.S. position that
the UNSC has primary responsibility over the Peacebuilding
Commission. FM Fini noted that it would be Utopian to
believe the General Assembly could consolidate peace and that
only the UNSC could ensure the Commission's effectiveness.
Min. Busacca noted that an agreement on Peacebuilding might
be reached by next week, to which Amb. Tahir-Kheli replied
that the United States would need Management Reform to move
forward along with the Commission. Voicing concern that some
countries might become de facto permanent members of the
Commission if membership were left to a vote, Min. Busacca
proposed rotating membership for those on the "influential
countries" list (Troop Contributing Countries and Financial
Donors),with the provision that a country could not serve
consecutive terms. Amb. Tahir-Kheli responded that the role
of the UNSC and P5 was critical to the work of the
Commission. However, she noted the United States had heard
similar concerns from other countries. Min. Busacca also
noted that ECOSOC, in spite of its problems, and hopefully as
a reformed institution, should play an important role in the
Commission since the UNSC would not be effective at
comprehensive, long-term follow-up to conflicts. Agreeing
with the need for a role for ECOSOC, Amb. Tahir-Kheli
stressed that it was important for the UNSC to have
Commission control when it was "seized with an issue," and
that ECOSOC needed to be reformed. Min. Talo mentioned the
need to take into account the role of NATO when discussing
peacekeeping within the UN context, highlighting the
important role NATO played in the Balkans.

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Comprehensive Convention Against International Terrorism
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6. (C) Based on conversations earlier in her trip, Amb.
Tahir-Kheli noted to all interlocutors the potential for
moving forward on a recognition by all that there can be no
exception to attacks on innocent civilians for any reason
whatsoever. FM Fini noted the difficulties encountered at
the Barcelona Conference, where the issue of "occupying
forces" had been a problem for reaching agreement on a
definition of terrorism. Cons. Cantini agreed that it was
important to keep working on a definition of terrorism, in
spite of the difficulties, and highlighted the importance of
a definition for Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties and other
legal issues. He noted the paradoxical multilateral
approaches of Egypt, Pakistan, and Jordan, countries which
had bilaterally supported efforts to combat terrorism and
agreed that voting on the issue at this point would be
counterproductive.

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UNSC Reform
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7. (C) Italy was less focused on Security Council expansion
than on previous occasions, with FM Fini highlighting that
Italy shared the U.S. view that UN Reform took precedence
over UNSC reform. DG Terzi expressed concern that Japan
seemed to be linking the UN budget and scale of assessment
with UNSC expansion. He also requested clarification on how
an "interim budget" would work, stressing the importance of
allowing the UN to continue to function. Italy also
reaffirmed its position against new permanent UNSC seats,
with Amb. Tahir-Kheli reiterating U.S. support for a seat for
Japan, while keeping the UNSC expansion debate on hold prior
to reaching agreement on general UN Reform priorities. DG
Terzi also requested for the United States stay in contact
with Italy in the coming months as nominees for UN Secretary
General emerged.

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Outreach
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8. (U) Amb. Tahir-Kheli held two outreach events in Rome.
December 12, she joined Min. Busacca at a roundtable for
students at the Italian Association for International
Organizations, sponsored by the Italian Diplomatic Institute.
December 13, she participated in a press luncheon with
representatives of Italy's major newspapers. At both events,
Amb. Tahir-Kheli provided a detailed outline of U.S.
priorities on UN Reform. Both student and journalist
questions focused on UNSC expansion, in particular Italy's
bid to keep Germany from obtaining a permanent seat.
Reporters also highlighted Italy's proposal for a permanent
EU seat on the UNSC. Amb. Tahir-Kheli responded that the
United States had made its position clear that we support a
seat for Japan and expansion by two or so members, but that
this issue was too divisive and polarizing for constructive
discussion at the UN at this time while other needed reforms
are under active consideration.


9. (U) This cable was cleared by Amb. Tahir-Kheli.
SPOGLI