SYG ANNAN DISCUSSES IRAN, DARFUR, SOMALIA AND UN

1. (C) SUMMARY. In a meeting convened at his request,
Secretary-General (SYG) Annan gave Ambassador Bolton a

SIPDIS
read-out of his recent conversation with head of Iran's
Supreme National Security Council Larijani on the incentives
package just presented by European Union High Representative
Solana, as well as of his discussions with Sudanese President
Al Bashir in light of the Security Council's Mission to
Sudan. Annan asked if Washington were planning a statement
in response to allegations of its support to Somali rebels.
SYG Annan updated Ambassador Bolton on recent discussions
with Nigerian President Obasanjo regarding the Bakassi
peninsula. Finally, the SYG requested an update from
Ambassadors Bolton and Wallace of what UN budgets cuts were
in the works. END SUMMARY.

IRAN


--------------------------




2. (C) SYG Annan reported that in their most recent
conversation, Larijani had been 'reasonable' in accepting
Annan's advice not to reject out of hand the incentives
package when Solana presented it and to refrain from
inflammatory rhetoric once the package was received.
Larijani's only request, according to Annan, was that the
package not be made public before Tehran had a chance to
study it; Tehran would make the report available to the
public 'at an appropriate time.' The SYG planned to contact
Larijani again in the wake of Solana's visit. SYG Annan
noted that his conversations with both Larijani and
especially Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were the 'most
constructive' he had had with them lately. SYG Annan agreed
with Ambassador Bolton that the issue of misinformation
leaking from Vienna regarding U.S. provisions of weapons
parts was problematic.

DARFUR


--------------------------




3. (C) SYG Annan mentioned he had spoken several times with
Al Bashir, as Department of Peacekeeping Operations Under-SYG
Guehenno would do later this week in Khartoum after a stop
first in Addis Ababa to join with African Union
representatives on his technical assessment mission. Annan
had encouraged UK PR Jones Parry prior to departure of the
Security Council Mission to Sudan that the council should
assert itself on what he saw as four main objectives in
Darfur: (1), pressure parties that have not done so to sign
the Darfur Peace Agreement; (2), strengthen AMIS until the UN
could assume control; (3), raise money to increase the
humanitarian effort (SYG Annan noted U.S. contributions,
adding that the WFP anticipated restoration of full rations
by October); and (4), deploy UN forces. Annan expected his
contacts with potential troop-contributing countries to
intensify once the Council provided a mandate for the UN
Darfur operation after the return of the assessment team.



4. (C) Ambassador Bolton informed Annan that Al Bashir, not
unexpectedly, had told the Security Council mission earlier
in the day he opposed a Chapter VII mandate for the eventual
UN force. The SYG acknowledged the divisiveness surrounding
the issue of Chapter VII but noted that while most provisions
of the eventual mandate would likely be under Chapter VI,
Chapter VII elements would be necessary to ensure protection
of civilians. Ambassador Bolton expressed displeasure with
the comparison Special Envoy Brahimi had drawn while in
Khartoum between the UN force in Darfur and the U.S.
'invasion' of Iraq. The SYG avoided a direct response by
saying Brahimi was responding to excessive misinformation
surrounding the planned Darfur deployment, most of which
originated from the Sudanese Government itself.

SOMALIA


--------------------------




5. (C) SYG Annan agreed with Ambassador Bolton on the gravity
of the seizure of power in Mogadishu by militias of the
Sharia Courts. Annan suggested that Washington consider a


statement to 'set the record straight' on the rumors of U.S.
support to warlords, which were 'agitating' the region.

NIGERIA-CAMEROON


--------------------------




6. (C) The SYG reported that efforts to get both sides to
commit to demarcation had been successful, with 500
demarcated kilometers to show for it. The Bakassi peninsula
remained problematic: Nigerian President Obasanjo's offer to
manage 22 percent of it for a period of 50 years did not
address the question of how to manage it in the short-term.
SYG Annan was trying to get the parties to commit to a
duration between one and five years for Nigerian management.
The SYG noted that Cameroon was seeking U.S. representation
at the signing ceremony on the border agreement envisaged for
June 12, and Ambassador Bolton agreed to attend.

UN REFORM


--------------------------




7. (C) Ambassador Wallace offered to provide the SYG with a
copy of the U.S. 'bucket paper' in response to Annan's
questions about what budget cuts were in the works (COMMENT.
The 'bucket paper' was sent to Assistant SYG Orr later in the
day. END COMMENT). Ambassador Bolton said concrete results
were needed in areas of accountability, mandate reform and
management reform, given the G-77's willingness to accept
proposals on accountability but not on flexibility.
Ambassador Bolton expected direct negotiations with the G-77
to resume upon South African Ambassador Kumalo's return to
New York the week of June 12.



8. (C) The SYG felt he had made some headway during his Asia
trip on decreasing tension between China and Japan on UN
scale of assessments, warning China it would have to increase
its contributions. Ambassador Bolton said he would speak
with EU members later in the day on this issue. Annan
inquired about any fall-out from comments made by UK PM Blair
at Georgetown University last month on expansion of the
Security Council, and Ambassador Bolton said Blair's omission
of any mention of Brazil was notable.
BOLTON