HAITI: RUSSIA SUPPORTS SIX-MONTH MINUSTAH MANDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000655 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR TIMOTHY G. RYAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2017 TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO HA RS SUBJECT: HAITI: RUSSIA SUPPORTS SIX-MONTH MINUSTAH MANDATE REF: STATE 16568 Classified By: Pol/Min Counselor Alice G. Wells. Reasons: 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) We raised reftel points on February 13 with Vladimir Safronkov, Chief of the UN Political Affairs Section in the MFA's International Organizations Department, who told us that Russia would support only a six-month extension of the MINUSTAH mandate. He argued that a mandate of six months vice one year would force the Haitians to begin to think about assuming more responsibility for their affairs. He acknowledged that both the Contact Group of donors and the states supplying most of the peacekeepers supported the longer period, but claimed that the six month mandate should not interfere in their mission planning. ¶2. (C) Safronkov told us that Russia was coordinating closely with China on the mandate. When pressed to encourage the Chinese to take into account their responsibilities as a P-5 member in reviewing the mandate, Safronkov noted that it would also be useful if the Haitians, who were dependent on the goodwill of the international community and especially the UNSC, took into account the realities of the Security Council. Russia acknowledged that Haiti, just like any state, could determine with whom it would have diplomatic relations, but at the same time, the Haitians needed to accept the fact that their vocal support for Taiwan at UNGA could have consequences. ¶3. (C) On February 14 we delivered the same points to Sergey Tarasov of the MFA's Office of Caribbean Affairs. Tarasov told us that Russia valued MINUSTAH, pointing out the GOR contributed to the police contingent in Haiti. He said that Russia would continue its support, but he judged that while some progress had been made in Haiti, the country would need MINUSTAH for several years to come. BURNS