AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD'S LUNCH WITH SYG BAN KI-MOON

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000539 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD'S LUNCH WITH SYG BAN KI-MOON Classified By: Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad. E.O 12958. Reasons 1.4 (B&D). ¶1. (C) During a June 26 lunch, Ambassador Khalilzad and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon discussed: the UN Reform Group, SIPDIS UNDP and DPRK, the Capital Master Plan, personnel issues, Ban's Washington trip, and the Terms of Reference for the Blair appointment. ¶2. (C) On the Reform Group: On our request that he meet with selected member states to agree on deliverable reforms, the SYG said he preferred to have UNGA President Khalifa host such a meeting lest she feel slighted. ¶3. (C) On the UNDP issue: On the problems we feel Malkert is posing for Kemal, the SYG and the UN in general and on the way in which UNDP has chosen to deal with the DPRK, the SYG said that the UN would do the right thing, but that he did not want the issue discussed within his staff. ¶4. (C) On the Capital Master Plan: The SYG said that every year's delay increases the total budget by USD 120 million. He said also that he would appoint an American to be the Executive Director. ¶5. (C) On Personnel: The SYG asked that the U.S. provide the name of a candidate to succeed Ashraf Qazi as IRAQ SRSG. Ban also asked whether the U.S. could suggest any names for the position of Undersecretary for Field Operations in DPKO's new Department of Field Operations. He said that he had found a well-qualified South Korean to head the new Information Technology position that will be responsible for integrating the entire UN information system. Ban also said he had selected a Brazilian -- Sergio Duarte -- to be the new Department of Disarmament Affair's (DDA) High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. ¶6. (C) On his trip to Washington, DC, Ban said that his preference is to do it in July. ¶7. (C) Ban also signed off on the Terms of Reference for Blair and for the Quartet announcement without changes. At the same time, Ban expressed concern that certain details regarding the Blair appointment -- who provides security, who pays for support, where he will live -- have not yet been decided and will need to be resolved. WOLFF