UN REFORM: JUSCKANZ AMBASSADORS DISCUSS STRATEGY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001124

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC UUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UN REFORM: JUSCKANZ AMBASSADORS DISCUSS STRATEGY
TO ACHIEVE TANGIBLE PROGRESS ON MANDATE REVIEW, MANAGEMENT
REFORM BY JUNE 30

REF: STATE 83998


1. SUMMARY: Ambassador Bolton convened a meeting of JUSCKANZ
ambassadors (Note: South Korea recently joined JUSCKANZ
discussions) the afternoon of May 23 to coordinate a strategy
aimed at achieving meaningful results on mandate review and
UN management reform before the $950 million spending
authority approved by the General Assembly in late December
2005 expires on/about June 30. Anticipating that Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) ministers, meeting in Malaysia May 27-30,
would likely adopt a common position seeking immediate
lifting of the "cap" on UN spending (reftel),Bolton said
JUSCKANZ members, coordinating closely with EU and other
like-minded states, needed to present a unified message to
members of the NAM and the Group of 77 and China (G-77) that
failure to accomplish tangible progress on the reform agenda
would have serious consequences, including possible USG
withholding of assessed UN dues. A recently circulated UK
non-paper that proposed deferring immediate action on
mandates until after the budget cap was lifted was the
opposite of what was needed now. JUSCKANZ ambassadors agreed
to accelerate coordination efforts with their EU counterparts
to finalize a common position on management reform and
mandate review objectives to be achieved prior to June 30.
They also discussed avenues for increased dialogue with
select G-77 members, including invitation to a May 30 lunch.
All agreed that with limited time remaining, close
cooperation and coordination would be essential to counter
the opposition of those in the NAM and G-77 who were making
every effort to undermine the reform process. END SUMMARY.

TIME RUNNING OUT;
SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES
IF GOALS ARE NOT MET
--------------


2. Ambassador Bolton opened the discussion by underscoring
the need for prompt action if tangible results on management
reform, and more importantly, mandate review, were to be
achieved before current UN spending authority expired in mid
to late June. With NAM ministers scheduled to meet in
Malaysia May 27-30, some type of NAM/G-77 initiative seeking
to lift the UN spending cap was quite likely to follow.
Bolton expressed frustration, echoed by other JUSCKANZ
ambassadors, over difficulties coordinating a common position
with EU members. A UK non-paper, circulated May 18 by UK
PermRep Jones Parry, that proposed possible elements of
reform for use in reaching consensus by June 30, seemed to
suggest the granting of additional UN spending authority in
the absence of meaningful progress on the mandate review.
Bolton said the reverse approach was needed: achieve tangible
results now in consolidating overlapping mandates and
terminating those deemed no longer necessary, then Qprove
additional spending authority. Underscoring that "we need
concrete results," Bolton said JUSCKANZ members should
deliver a clear, unambiguous message to those NAM and G-77
states who were delaying the reform agenda, emphasizing that
their actions would have significant consequences. If
expected reforms have not been achieved by June 30, Bolton
said the USG will face some difficult choices: do nothing,
wait for possible Congressional action limiting future U.S.
assessed payments to the UN, or consider a pre-emptive
decision to withhold U.S. contributions pending progress on
reform.

PROPOSED JUSCKANZ
STRATEGY
--------------


3. JUSCKANZ ambassadors agreed on a number of steps to
accelerate progress in achieving tangible results on the
reform agenda, including:

-- increased JUSCKANZ efforts to establish a common position
with EU members on management reform and mandate review
objectives to be achieved by June 30;

-- New Zealand PermRep to consult with the Austrian PermRep
about setting up a JUSCKANZ-EU meeting;

-- South Korea to invite JUSCKANZ and all 25 EU members to a
May 30 lunch; and,

-- calls by JUSCKANZ members to select members of the NAM and
G-77 to pursue possible avenues for compromise and progress
on the reform agenda.

BOLTON