UN REQUEST FOR USG ACTION ON REGISTER OF DAMAGES

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000165 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/UNP, NEA/IPA, PRM/ANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAL UNSC IS SUBJECT: UN REQUEST FOR USG ACTION ON REGISTER OF DAMAGES FROM SEPARATION BARRIER ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Action Request: The UN is quietly asking select member states to submit recommendations for one of three positions on the Board of the Register of Damages related to the construction of the Israeli separation barrier. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution December 15, 2006, to establish the Register, despite USG opposition. The Board will have the overall responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of the Register; the UN expects to hire attorneys with skills in claim management. (A copy of the Terms of Reference has been e-mailed to IO/UNP.) The UN is soliciting candidates from five states in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States. A response is due by March 30. Action Request in para 4. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Vladimir Goryayev, the deputy director of the UN's office of Asia and the Pacific division in the Department of Political Affairs, asked to meet with USUN February 28 to discuss next steps on establishing the Register of the Damages, as mandated by UNGA resolution A/ES-10/L.20/Rev.1. He was joined by staff member Guillaume Blanc. Goryayev noted the UNGA resolution mandated the establishment of the Register within six months of its adoption, but stated the UN could not meet that timeline. He confirmed that the office will be in Vienna, and that the UN seeks to adhere strictly to the limited mandate of compiling claims and to take no action on verification, evaluation, or compensation. He reported that Palestinian PR Riyadh Mansour had sought to establish links between the Register and other UN bodies in the territories (e.g., UNRWA),but that the UN had rejected this proposal. ¶3. (SBU) Describing what he characterized as "shared interests" between the UN and the USG in ensuring the Board is composed of impartial and objective professionals, Goryayev explained that the UN is quietly soliciting candidates from select member states in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In the Western Hemisphere, the UN will approach the USG, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. Goryayev said the board members would be hired on a "when actually employed basis" at the UN rank of D2. He expected their duties would involve trips to Vienna four times each year and that each trip was estimated to take two weeks. Travel expenses would be reimbursed. They hope the first meeting can be scheduled for May 1. He explained the UN is looking for candidates with "international exposure" and experience as an attorney in claim management. The UN believes it would be inappropriate to hire any national government officials. The UN is seeking gender balance and therefore would welcome female candidates. ¶4. (SBU) Action Request: USUN requests guidance on how to respond to this solicitation. WOLFF