SYG SELECTION: UNSC PRESIDENT MAYORAL UPDATES ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000765

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2011
TAGS: PREL UNSC AR UN
SUBJECT: SYG SELECTION: UNSC PRESIDENT MAYORAL UPDATES ON
BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS, MARCH 22

REF: USUN 379

Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Permanent Representative, for
Reasons 1.4 b,d


1. (SBU) Ambassador Bolton met on March 22 with Argentine
Permanent Representative Cesar Mayoral, who was Security
Council President for the month, to discuss the selection
process for the next Secretary-General. Mayoral has
continued the initiative started by Ambassador Bolton of
bilateral consultations with Security Council members. He
also intends to brief the full Council before leaving the
Presidency, in informal consultations, on the results of his
discussions.


2. (SBU) Mayoral said that his consultations had identified
two main issues for the Council to resolve. The first
remained the question of regional rotation and whether or not
an Asian has a "right" to be the next SYG. Mayoral said that
delegations had noted the key role China would play in this
regard, including in determining how broadly "Asia" would be
defined (i.e., just East Asia, or to include South and
Southwest Asia?). Mayoral said the other big question was on
timing, where other delegations seemed comfortable with a
"step-by-step" approach that led to a decision in September.


3. (C) Ambassador Bolton said that discussions of rotation
and timing "in the abstract" would continue to be difficult
and would not likely result in consensus. Delegations' real
positions on rotation would only be fleshed out once the
Council discussed specific candidates. The Chinese might
find that a Norwegian candidate "looks pretty good,"
Ambassador Bolton speculated, if Japanese PM Koizumi put
himself forward as a candidate now that Tokyo's drive for a
permanent Council seat has stalled. (Note: Mayoral expressed
concern, though clearly in the realm of the hypothetical,
that Japan or India might seek to link the SYG selection to
the enlargement question and "trade one for the other." End
Note.)


4. (SBU) On timing, Ambassador Bolton stressed the importance
of avoiding a last-minute transition that did not provide the
incoming SYG the necessary time to prepare for his or her new
job. While we might agree that September is a good end date,
it is impossible to guarantee, as we do not know how long the
process will take. The more difficult question for the
Council to address is when to start discussing names. The
Council will also have to determine how to identify the list
of candidates. The U.S., Ambassador Bolton said, wants to
ensure that the widest possible field of candidates is
considered, to ensure that the organization has the benefit
of the largest pool of talent. We need to retain the option
of having the Council approach an individual who might not
have made him- or herself publicly known as a candidate.


5. (SBU) Mayoral said that Argentina had long supported a
more transparent process of SYG selection and asked for U.S.
views regarding the General Assembly's role in the process.
Ambassador Bolton noted that candidates, including some that
are not publicly declared, are already making the rounds in
New York to speak to delegations. This is a "good thing and
inevitable." The problem will come, however, if the GA sets
up formal "hearings or vetting procedures" that will serve to
discourage potential candidates from coming forward.
BOLTON