HIRC MEETING WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN, MARCH 27

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000683

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KUNR SU IS KPKO UN
SUBJECT: HIRC MEETING WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN, MARCH 27



1. Summary. Chairman Hyde and a Congressional Delegation
from the House International Relations Committee (HIRC) met
with Secretary-General Kofi Annan and senior members of his
staff at the UN on March 27. End Summary.


2. Chairman Hyde told Secretary-General Annan that the UN was
at an historic moment in its history. Committee members were
in New York to listen to views and advocate for meaningful
reform. While Committee members "may not agree on how to get
there," the Chairman said, "UN reform is something we all
agree on." He emphasized that reform needs leadership and
that the UN needs to restore its "confidence and direction"
in order to live up to its potential to alleviate strife and
turmoil around the world. Congressman Lantos added his
personal appreciation for the Secretary-General's leadership.

Annan describes reform efforts
--------------


3. The Secretary-General responded that the UN was "in the
throes of reform." He noted that the debate on the Human
Rights Council had occupied a great deal of attention and he
expressed appreciation for the U.S.'s "constructive
attitude." Annan stressed that it was inconceivable for the
UN to be able to strengthen its human rights mechanism
without active U.S. participation. "As a country, you've
done more for human rights around the world than anyone
else." Annan noted that while he had hoped for a two-thirds
election threshold, the requirement for an absolute majority
and the end of "automatic admission from regional groups"
should keep the worst actors off. He said that it was
important for the U.S. to be involved and "hopefully" on the
Council in its first year as it sets the agenda.


4. Annan briefly described other key reform efforts, noting
that the Peacebuilding Commission had been created to take a
longer view of countries coming out of reform and hopefully
forestall a return to violence. He said the Central
Revolving Fund would allow the UN to react more efficiently
to natural disasters. The agreement on language on
"Responsibility to Protect" in the outcome document was an
"important breakthrough for an organization that has insisted
on sovereignty for all these years." He said that the
management reforms before the GA would provide the
organization needed managerial flexibility and the upcoming
mandate review would allow the entire membership to "review
our priorities."

HIRC Members press on reform,
Darfur and anti-Israel resolutions
--------------


5. Congressman Ackerman noted that the UN continues to waste
large amounts of time and energy passing repetitive
resolutions that attack Israel. SYG Annan responded that the
various Palestinian Committees would be a part of the
programs that member states would have to address through the
mandate review process. He also noted that the issue has
been a focus of the actions of the previous Commission on
Human Rights.


6. Congressman Smith asked the SYG to address the ongoing
violence in Darfur and the problem of gender selection in
China and India, which, he noted, had led to one hundred
million "missing girls" in China. SYG Annan said the
situation in Darfur "continues to be unacceptable." He noted
that the African Union (AU) was pushing the parties to a
ceasefire, but that we needed the Sudanese Government and
rebels to reach a political agreement in Abuja. Annan noted
that there were difficulties on both parties to the
negotiations, including with disorganization among the rebel
groups. The AU had taken the decision on "rehatting" but the
Sudanese Government was very reluctant to accept a UN force.
While "puzzled" by Khartoum's reaction, Annan was confident
that it would be worked out. The transition, he said, would
take "six months or so" and it was important that there was
no gap between the AU and the UN. Annan made a pitch for
logistical and financial support for the AU forces now.


7. On the issue of family planning and gender selection,
Annan noted that it was a subject the UN has been discussing
with the Chinese and Indian governments, though he called it
a "difficult situation." He said that the governments in
question are "beginning to understand the problem" that will
result from lopsided gender imbalances in their populations,
but "we need to help them" understand the gravity of the
situation. The SYG used the opportunity to reiterate the
UN's "zero tolerance" policy on sexual abuse and
exploitation, noting that he had just returned from the Congo.


8. Congressman Payne said that he hoped the U.S. would
participate in the Human Rights Council, noting that he was
glad the worst abusers could "no longer be protected by the
regional groups." He asked Annan about problems related to
revenue sharing as part of the North/South Agreement in Sudan
and about the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Annan responded
that transparency regarding proceeds from oil revenues made
revenue sharing a difficult problem. On the LRA, Annan said
that UN forces in Eastern Congo needed better intelligence
sharing in order to "decapitate" the LRA leadership.


9. Congressman Burton noted reports that members of Annan's
staff had shredded documents related to the Oil for Food
investigation and asked whether the UN had taken disciplinary
action. Annan responded by defending the UN's willingness to
open itself to an independent investigation. "We set up the
Volcker Commission." Annan claimed the real scandal was with
those companies who did deals and paid kickbacks to Saddam.
On the specific charge of shredding documents, Annan said
that individual in question was following UN rules of
procedure and that the documents in question were copies
whose destruction "did not impede the work" of the
Commission. "When people break the laws here, we punish
them."


10. The delegation did not have the opportunity to clear this
message prior to their departure from New York.


11. Participants:

HIRC:
Chairman Henry Hyde
Congressman Tom Lantos
Congressman Chris Smith
Congressman Gary Ackerman
Congressman Dan Burton
Congressman Eni Faleomavaega
Congressman Donald Payne
Congressman William Delahunt

UN:
Secretary-General Annan

SIPDIS
Chief of Staff Mark Malloch-Brown
Deputy Chief of Staff Alicia Barcena
BOLTON