DEMARCHE: APPROACHING THE UN SECRETARIAT ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 130669 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017 TAGS: UNSC PREL PBTS IS SY LE SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: APPROACHING THE UN SECRETARIAT ABOUT TIMING AND DRAFTING OF UNSCR 1701 REPORT Classified By: IO Acting Assistant Secretary James Warlick, for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see para 2. ¶2. (C) Department requests USUN encourage the UN Secretariat to delay the release of the UNSC resolution 1701 report until late November in order to ensure consultations on the 1701 report take place after resolution of the Presidental election process. USUN should also solicit information about the drafter of the 1701 report in Michael Williams' absence and how the UN is planning to address the Sheba'a Farms issue. Demarche should be delivered at the level of the U/SYG for Political Affairs. ¶3. (C) Department requests USUN pursue the following objectives: -- Encourage the SYG to release the 1701 report at the end of November instead of October. -- Solicit information on the drafting of the 1701 report, specifically who will draft the report in Michael Williams' absence, how far along is the drafting process, and how the SYG is planning to handle the Sheba'a Farms issue. -- If necessary, remind the Secretariat that it is responsible for determining the territorial definition of the Sheba'a Farms area but not to address questions of sovereignty or jurisdiction. Additionally, 1701 invites the SYG to develop, in liaison with the concerned parties, proposals for disarmament, as well as proposals for dealing with the Sheba'a Farms area. ¶4. (U) Point of Contact and Reporting Deadline: POC is Anneliese Reinemeyer in IO/UNP, 202 647-0046 or in the GAL. USUN should report results of this demarche by September 28. ¶5. (C) Background: The UN's reports on the implementation of UNSC resolutions 1559 and 1701 are both due to the Security Council in October. Department would prefer to deal with both reports separately. Because of 1559's focus on elections, Department would like the 1559 report to be released as scheduled in October - during Lebanese presidential elections. Department would prefer to delay the 1701 report until late November to focus attention on violations of the arms embargo and to delay the Sheba'a Farms discussion until after Lebanese presidential elections. Department is also interested in determining who in the Secretariat will draft the 1701 report in Michael Williams' SIPDIS absence and how the Secretariat plans to handle the Sheba'a Farms issue. ¶6. (U) Department thanks Post for its efforts. RICE