A/S SILVERBERG AND AFM CUI DISCUSS BURMA, HAITI,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000617 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2017 TAGS: PREL UNSC CH BM IR KS KN SU SUBJECT: A/S SILVERBERG AND AFM CUI DISCUSS BURMA, HAITI, IRAN, UNSC REFORM, SUDAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shields. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) United Nations successes in 2006 benefited from P-5 cooperation, especially between the United States and China, Assistant Secretary for International Organizations (IO) Affairs Kristen Silverberg told Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai. U.S.-China cooperation resulted in the selection of an exceptionally qualified new UNSYG and a new WHO head, A/S Silverberg noted. AFM Cui said that U.S.-China cooperation also made it possible to pass resolutions on the DPRK and Iran nuclear issues. A/S Silverberg said Burma and Haiti still require attention. Cui said China is open to bilateral talks on Burma, will "stand on principle" on the renewal of the MINUSTAH mandate in Haiti and believes further sanctions on Iran will strengthen the hand of hardliners. China considers India, as a representative of the developing world, more deserving of a permanent UNSC seat than Japan, Cui said. A/S Silverberg urged China not to allow the Human Rights Council to be a forum for Israel-bashing, asked Beijing to support the Ugandan candidate for the Global Fund and reiterated invitations to Cui and IO Director General Wu Hailong to visit Washington. End Summary. When the P-5 Agree, the UN is Strong -------------- ¶2. (C) Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Kristen Silverberg opened her January 22 meeting with AFM Cui Tiankai by noting the positive cooperation between the United States and China in 2006, especially on the selection of UNSYG Ban Ki-moon and the appointment of Margaret Chan to head the World Health Organization (WHO). Cui agreed, adding that passage of UNSC resolutions on the DPRK and Iran, work on the UN scale of assessments and general UN reform all were successes for U.S.-China cooperation. The UN functions most effectively when the P-5 work well together to address important global challenges, Cui said. A/S Silverberg said the UN is well-received in the United States when it works, such as with positive missions like UNICEF and the World Food Program. Americans become frustrated when the UN is unwieldy and slow to respond to critical issues, such as when it fails to act on Darfur, she stressed. Burma -------------- ¶3. (C) Expressing concern at the PRC veto of the UNSC resolution on Burma, A/S Silverberg highlighted the international community's desire to find ways to improve the situation. She asked for PRC thoughts on the way forward, noting China's statement of concern about the situation in Burma. Cui said China wants to work with the United States on Burma and suggested "an exchange of views at the working level." Cui was not upbeat about a visit by ASEAN ministers to Rangoon, saying that it is clear that Burma is not receptive. Beijing is telling Rangoon it should do more to respond to international concerns, Cui said. ¶4. (C) IO Department Deputy Director General Chen Xu said Burmese Embassy officials in Beijing told the Chinese that Rangoon "likes" dealing with U/SYG Gambari and fears he will lose his position in the reshuffling of UN leadership posts under UNSYG Ban. China has urged UNSYG Ban to keep Gambari as Special Envoy for Burma, Chen said. A/S Silverberg said the important thing is not whether Rangoon "likes" the Special Envoy but whether the Special Envoy can produce results. Haiti -------------- ¶5. (C) A/S Silverberg stressed the importance of renewing the mandate for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), noting the ongoing lawlessness and serious crime plaguing much of the country. Cui said China feels sorry for the Haitian people but "we will stand by our principles on Taiwan." The Haitian government has not shown enough respect to "one of the P-5 members," Cui said. China has police in Haiti risking their lives. What China asks of Haiti is BEIJING 00000617 002 OF 003 respect for the one China principle, not anything life threatening. DDG Chen elaborated that China does not ask Preval to recognize the PRC but to maintain a lower profile on Taiwan. ¶6. (C) A/S Silverberg said ending the MINUSTAH mission would hurt the Haitian people and would not be well-received. Other countries, especially in Latin America, have made important contributions in Haiti, and some have lost peacekeepers and would not want to see those losses be in vain. She urged China to work with the other P-5 members to renew the mission. Iran -------------- ¶7. (C) A/S Silverberg asked Cui what China's views will be if the Security Council receives a report saying Iran is not in compliance. Cui said China hopes not to receive such a report and continues to believe that sanctions should be avoided where possible. Cui noted that he has met with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and Iranian Atomic Energy Agency head Saeedi on multiple occasions to urge Iran to regain the confidence of the international community, resolve all issues with the IAEA and suspend enrichment activities. Iran's hardliners became more powerful after the adoption of UNSCR 1737. Another resolution would strengthen their position even more. Things with Iran may get worse before they get better, he said. ¶8. (C) A/S Silverberg said the Council did not include some proposed sanctions in UNSCR 1737 because some members stressed the need to act incrementally. If the Council receives a report saying Iran is not in compliance, it may be time to revisit additional measures. A/S Silverberg asked if China has implemented the resolution, including freezing Iranian assets. Cui said China has notified the relevant ministries and local governments to do so. Human Rights Council, Israel and Darfur -------------- ¶9. (C) Iranian President Ahmedinijad's call to wipe Israel off the map and his holding of a conference on denying the Holocaust are deplorable, A/S Silverberg said. China agrees that those actions are unacceptable, Cui said. A/S Silverberg urged China to support a U.S.-sponsored resolution condemning Holocaust denial. Note: Cui did not respond substantively in this meeting, but in a subsequent meeting (septel) IO DG Wu Hailong indicated that the MFA has sent instructions to its Mission to support the resolution. End Note. Cui agreed with A/S Silverberg that the Human Rights Council has lost credibility because of its attacks on Israel but said China cannot stop Arab states from raising such resolutions. A/S Silverberg noted that China could stop supporting those resolutions, emphasizing that the Human Rights Council discussed Israel eight times before discussing the humanitarian crisis in Darfur even once. Noting the success of S/E Natsios' recent visit, she urged that China work with the United States to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. UNSC Reform: India "More Suitable" Than Japan? -------------- - ¶10. (C) Cui said China and Japan continue to discuss Japan's desire for permanent membership on the UNSC. PM Abe raised the issue during his October visit to China and Cui will discuss the issue in the near future with MOFA Policy Planning Director Kono. While China understands Japan's desire to join the UNSC, the lack of developing countries' representation on the UNSC is more important than Japan's candidacy, Cui said. Noting that India also wants to join the Council, as do many other countries, Cui said that India would be a more appropriate candidate than Japan because of India's status as a developing country. Beijing has told New Delhi that it has no objection to India playing a larger role at the UN, but emphasized to both New Delhi and Tokyo that the issue not a bilateral one and that securing PRC support will not lead to joining the UNSC. In any case, China does not think UNSC reform will be resolved soon, he commented. Candidates, Visits and PKO Training -------------- BEIJING 00000617 003 OF 003 ¶11. (C) A/S Silverberg reminded Cui of DRL A/S Lowenkron's invitation for a person of stature such as Cui to visit Washington for human rights talks. She also asked Cui to support her invitation for Director General for International Organizations Wu Hailong to come to Washington. She further asked China to take on a bigger role in capacity building and training for peacekeepers, noting that the topic will be raised at the next A/S-level P-5 meeting. Cui said he would support the invitation to Wu and would himself attempt to visit Washington later in the year. A/S Silverberg urged China to support Ugandan Alex Coutinho's candidacy for the Global Fund. Cui did not respond substantively on the Global Fund candidates or on A/S Lowenkron's invitation. He agreed that further work on peacekeeping would be worthwhile. ¶12. (C) Cui arrived at the meeting directly after providing a briefing at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in preparation for Wen Jiabao's planned April visit to Tokyo, he told us. Cui is departing Beijing January 23 for Geneva, where he will meet with WHO chair Margaret Chan, and then will travel to Berlin, where he will meet with German officials handling G-8 affairs, he mentioned. ¶13. (U) A/S Silverberg cleared this message. SEDNEY