IO DAS LAGON ROUND-TABLE AT BELGIAN FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000825 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2013 TAGS: PREL UN PHUM PREF UNSC UNHRC BE SUBJECT: IO DAS LAGON ROUND-TABLE AT BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, for reasons 4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a February 28 roundtable with Belgian Foreign Ministry counterparts working on United Nations issues, IO Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Rights Mark Lagon pointed to precedent-setting steps taken by new UNSYG Ban toward reform and stated that the U.S. was giving Ban the benefit of the doubt in his surprising early appointments to senior positions. Both sides said they were willing to accept the SYG's decision to divide DPKO despite questions the GOB cited. They agreed that it was part of the reform agenda, which was the "most stalled" arena in the area of mandate review. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director for International Affairs Benedicte Frankinet suggested that the data base being set up as a tool for mandate review could cut costs and avoid redundancy. On the new Human Rights Council (HRC) Lagon said that whether or not the U.S. presents its candidacy, it would "not disengage" on matters before the body. (Note: Department announced the USG was not running on March 6, 2007.) Sudan's refusal to let in UN human rights monitors was disappointing, and both sides sought to prompt HRC toward greater balance. End summary. NEW LEADERSHIP AND REORGANIZATION -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Belgian Director for International Affairs Benedicte Frankinet opened with the observation that new UN Secretary General (SYG) Ban Ki-Moon's efforts to reorganize the UN were interesting and ambitious, for example division of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (see para. 5). Both sides agreed they would defer to the new SYG's judgment as advocates of empowering the UN's chief administrator to do his job. She said that Belgium was prepared to support Ban in the 5th committee (Administration and Budget) because the GOB wanted to see a "modern" UN. Lagon said that the USG agreed with her on the need for a more credible UN that would be less vulnerable to criticism and more able to reassure Congress for funding purposes. Ban's early steps, such as the precedent-setter of releasing his own financial information, and requiring funding accountability of the UN Development Programme in the DPRK, established good models. ¶3. (SBU) Lagon remarked that the USG hoped for good results from Ban's initial high-level appointments - former Tanzanian foreign minister Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro as Deputy Secretary General (DSYG) and Under Secretary General (USYG) Alicia Barcena Ibarra, who, he noted, had made a good impression on A/S Silverberg. Frankinet observed that promoting women from the developing world was an avowed UN concern, yet the DSYG position was "very complicated" for anyone who hadn't been part of the UN system. Frankinet cited the Iraqi "Oil for Food" scandal as a matter that might have been prevented by an experienced number two manager at the UN not diverted to step in for duties in place of Kofi Annan. Both sides reported that their countries had been surprised by the appointment of China's PermRep Sha Zukang to head the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. ¶4. (SBU) Lagon stated that the U.S. hoped some Americans would be hired in positions yet to be filled, including to facilitate progress on the reform process. The two agreed that, while some of Ban's early moves had been surprising, their governments had decided to give the new SYG the benefit of the doubt in making his reform decisions. Some of Ban's actions might reflect attention to the G-77, Frankinet suggested. Lagon noted that the USG would watch to see how involved DSYG Migiro would be on ethics or management matters. BIFURCATING THE DPKO -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Frankinet voiced concern about Ban's decision to split the DPKO into two bureaucracies. The GOB fears the new bifurcated format may lend itself to confusion and greater delays in moving missions from the planning to the operational stage. Lagon said there may be a number of reasons for splitting the DPKO, adding that the USG would give Ban the benefit of the doubt. CDA Will Imbrie remarked that the DPKO in any given country is a direct reflection of the quality of the Special Representative of the SYG. MANDATE REVIEW -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Lagon observed that in the overall reform process it was indeed the mandate review that was the most stalled. One goal was for the G-77 to be reassured that mandate review reallocations will not radically reduce the overall size of the UN budget or gore their equities. He said nations like the USG and GOB needed to encourage the G-77 to engage in a serious effort to reallocate resources to the highest priorities with the confidence of knowing they are in the driver's seat in UNGA decision-making. However, he stated, success of mandate review would be better if its scope were reduced and a rotation between areas of UN work were established on a year by year basis. Yet, a core question remained: how to depoliticize the process? Frankinet judged the new data base set up for mandate review to be "very useful" in showing what had been and what remained to be done. Its value would be to slow down the rate of redundant new initiatives. She noted that there ought to be a process of insisting that the SYG give an analysis of existing programs in an area any time a new mandate was proposed in a resolution, much like the requirement of Program Budget Implications being identified. Lagon agreed. Lagon noted the notion of giving the Office of Internal Oversight Services the job of cataloguing and analyzing mandates, because of the ironic development of increased G-77 comfort with the OIOS parallel with increased suspicion of the Secretariat as a threat to G-77 influence. HRC --- ¶7. (SBU) On the new Human Rights Council (HRC),both sides lamented that the entity seemed no better than its predecessor (the UN Commission on Human Rights, which was abolished for including flagrant violator nations, many of whom have returned on the HRC). MFA Human Rights Director Francine Chainey pointed out that HRC was presently preparing for its March 12-30 session in Geneva. The body's current focus was institutional arrangements, such as a review of rapporteurs and creation of a Universal Periodic Review. Belgium agreed with its EU colleagues on the Council that new resolutions should not be tabled for the time being in this period of an institutional focus. Chainey inquired if the U.S. would be a candidate to HRC. ¶8. (C) Lagon replied that USG would soon decide about running for a seat. That said, Washington "will not disengage," but will remain highly active from the outside to encourage balanced HRC decisions. "We take the composition of the HRC very seriously," he observed and mentioned State Department demarches delivered worldwide to encourage governments committed to democracy and human rights to compete in the election. (Note: On 03/06/2007, the State Department announced that it was not a candidate to HRC.) A U.S. concern for the March HRC Session was highlighting that Sudan did not let in the Assessment Team created by a Special Session, but that the top concern was for all policies to reinforces with the "prize goal" of getting Sudan to let in UN peacekeepers. Lagon also noted the U.S. highest priority at the HRC was focusing on Burma, notably in a Special Session. ¶9. (SBU) Chainey said Belgium wanted to see more credible candidates run for seats on the HRC. She noted Slovenia?s concern about a third candidate for two Eastern European seats in the May 2007 election for HRC in addition to it and Belarus taking votes away from itself rather than Belarus. Lagon said the U.S. would welcome more EU members in the Eastern European Group of the HRC. Institution-Building -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Lagon observed that institution-building is not the bulk of the schedule of the March HRC session, which instead was emphasizing special rapporteurs. He emphasized the need for decisions on mandates and rapporteurs not to be preempted by an effort by Cuba or another government to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories permanently, before a package deal on all such mechanisms. He stated that the U.S. hoped for the whole package to come together by the end of June 2007. Next Steps on Burma -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Lagon agreed that even though the U.S.-backed Burma resolution failed to pass in January 2007 at the UNSC, Washington hoped to draw on the statements by Russia (veto),South Africa (a no vote) and Indonesia (abstention),that the HRC was the proper forum. A Special Session on Burma was the option the U.S. preferred to be pursued. The U.S. was looking for a willing HRC member to take the lead. Peace-Building Entities -------------- ¶12. (SBU) On the Peace Building Commission (PBC) Frankinet noted some "interesting developments" in Central Africa, where Belgium has an important colonial history. Burundi has been the subject of an "honest appraisal" at the PBC including the failings of its efforts to promote peace by identifying gaps in its efforts. She suggested there was some confusion over the distinction between PBC and the Peace-Building Fund (PBF). Humanitarian Reform -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Lagon said the U.S. was very pleased with the leadership of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres. UNHCR had taken a much bigger role in dealing with internally-displaced persons (IDP's),dealt with through the creation of a new cluster system. It still needed time to "shake out" but the U.S. believes it is proceeding in the right direction. ¶14. (SBU) Lagon noted that, based on meeting him, incoming USYG for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes was a talented diplomat, who would inherit some strong senior personnel at the UN Office for Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs. Responsibility to Protect -------------- ¶15. (C) Lagon noted that A/S Silverberg and the USG wanted "to advance the norm" of Responsibility to Protect from the September 2005 UN World Summit Outcome Document at the UNSC. The best way to advance that was to address Sudan, Lagon said. Frankinet replied that Belgium would like to work with the U.S. to achieve that progress. / / / / / / / IMBRIE