UNHCHR ARBOUR MAY 31 MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000439

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT, FOR, IO/UNP, IO/RHS, GENEVA FOR PSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CG KAWC KWMN PHUM PREL XA ZF
SUBJECT: UNHCHR ARBOUR MAY 31 MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR
KHALILZAD


1. (SBU) Summary: On May 31, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Louise Arbour met with Ambassador Khalilzad to discuss
her recent mission to the Great Lakes region. She noted
many ongoing problems, specifically the overall lack of
security, violence against women and children, and judicial
impunity. Arbour additionally provided her views on the
Human Rights Council. She intends to visit Washington in the
coming weeks - her message: don't give up on all UN human
rights efforts. End Summary.

Congolese Military:


2. (SBU) The overall lack of security remains the most
critical problem in the Great Lakes region. Arbour stated
that the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration plan
("DDR") had been a total failure. Run by the government of
the DRC and financed by the World Bank, the program had been
destroyed by corruption, and is now bankrupt. The region
remains flooded with weapons.


3. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad asked if any progress had been
made on the issue of child soldiers. Arbour stated she
didn't think so, but that it is difficult to know the real
rate of success. She noted specific problems in the eastern
half of the DRC, where many child soldiers, once demobilized,
are re-recruited in Rwanda as "there is nothing else for them
to do."


4. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad pointed out that the rebel
militia need to be reintegrated into the military as
individuals, not as units, and that their numbers needed to
be limited to a small percentage of the total force. Arbour
stated that "mixage" -- where rebel militias are brought into
the Congolese military but not dismantled -- has now served
to legitimize and reinforce the militias, making them more
dangerous than ever. She added that neither the armed forces
hierarchy, nor the government in Kinshasa have any real
control over these militias, and civilian massacres continue
unabated.


5. (SBU) Arbour further stated that violence against women in
the region is "worse than she could have imagined." Violent
rape and torture occurs on a large scale, often with multiple
perpetrators, and it is brutal. The violent nature of the
attacks and the injuries sustained by the women are so
barbaric, doctors are unable to receive training as to how to
treat them -- the type and extent of injury are unheard of in
the civilized world.

Culture of Impunity:


6. (SBU) Arbour stated that her mandate is to report, and to
promote accountability and justice. She stated the justice
system in the DRC is failing, and that the culture of
impunity only adds to the level of overall insecurity.
Known, indicted war criminals remain unpunished and at large.
Warrants are issued, but remain unexecuted, as there is no
one to bring these individuals to justice. The guilty remain
unpunished.

Human Rights Council:


7. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad noted the perception that the
UN machinery dealing with human rights is not doing a good
job. Specifically in regard to the Human Rights Council
("HRC"),Ambassador Khalilzad stated that many have asked the
U.S. to participate, but that the HRC "has to move in the
right direction first." He acknowledged some recent progress
on the election of Bosnia over Belarus, but stated that the
Council is perceived as ineffective and unbalanced.


8. (SBU) Arbour did not disagree, but stated she is not quite
as pessimistic about the HRC as Ambassador Khalilzad, noting
there are 47 member states, and like other political bodies,
the HRC is dominated by powerful regional alliances. "The
Islamic conference is the most powerful, because they are the
most organized." Because Asia and Africa dominate right now,
Latin America and Europe simply don't have the votes, and
therefore any Latin or European agenda needs to be finessed.
She acknowledged that the HRC has been very protective of
certain issues, particularly of Sudan, but believes those
alliances are loosening, and that there is cause for hope.
When Ambassador Khalilzad raised the HRC,s negative actions
towards Israel and the U.S., Arbour acknowledged that the HRC
seems fixated on Israel, which the Council views as critical
in resolving conflict in the region. She stated that in her
view, the U.S. is less of a target, although she noted Cuba's
periodic agitation.


9. (SBU) Arbour stated that if she had one message for the


Ambassador, it is "don't write off all UN human rights
efforts." Khalilzad said that the U.S. supports UN human
rights efforts, but at the moment, not the efforts of the
HRC. As an aside, Arbour stated that the HRC is attempting
to exert control over her own actions and her Office -- a
move she is strongly resisting.

Upcoming Visit to Washington:


10. (SBU) In closing, Ambassador Khalilzad asked if there is
anything he could do to assist with Arbour,s upcoming trip
to Washington. Arbour commented that she has been in her
position for almost three years, and the U.S. is the only P-5
nation that has yet to extend an invitation for her to visit
-- she has been invited by all the other P-5 members, and
visited some - specifically Russia - more than once. For her
upcoming trip, she said she may have an appointment with
Under Secretary Burns, but because of scheduling conflicts he
may be the only one available. Ambassador Khalilzad said he
would put in a call to U/S Burns to facilitate this
appointment. During the visit, Arbour added she will also
have lunch with members of the U.S. Supreme Court, and also
plans to meet with a number of Senators.
KHALILZAD