UNGA 61: PRESIDENT-ELECT KHALIFA LAYS OUT HER

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001790 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EFIN EAID KUNR UNGA BA SUBJECT: UNGA 61: PRESIDENT-ELECT KHALIFA LAYS OUT HER PRIORITIES ¶1. (U) On September 11, Ambassadors Bolton and Wallace called on incoming President of the General Assembly Haya al Khalifa at the Bahraini Mission to the UN. Khalifa had, just hours before, been ceremoniously handed the gavel by outgoing President Eliasson in the General Assembly Hall. Bolton assured Khalifa of the U.S.' continued support in the weeks and months ahead. Unlike others in the GA, the U.S. "would not get hung up on process," he told Khalifa, "but would focus on substance," as she sought to organize the work of the upcoming session. ¶2. (U) Khalifa said her top priorities were the implementation of the recently passed development resolution (A/RES/60/265) and securing agreement on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). On development, Khalifa said she would seek to facilitate an agreement between donor and recipient nations. On terrorism, she argued that a way could be found to reach agreement on the remaining differences, much as Eliasson had found common ground to secure a resolution on the Secretary-General's counter-terrorism strategy in the final days of the 60th Session. ¶3. (U) Pressed by Ambassador Bolton to consider the importance of the reform agenda, Khalifa noted her interest in further revitalization of the General Assembly and the possibility of Security Council reform. In response to a question on mandate review, she said that "mistrust" among Member States "poisoned the atmosphere" and led delegations to try to keep mandates "even through the substance is finished." ¶4. (U) Ambassador Bolton updated Khalifa on the Security Council's ongoing effort to recommend a candidate for Secretary-General to the General Assembly in sufficient time SIPDIS to allow for a successful transition. He assured Khalifa of continuing close coordination over the coming weeks as Council deliberations progressed. BOLTON