SYG BAN URGES UNSC TO EXTEND MINUSTAH MANDATE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000760 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2017 TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC HA SUBJECT: SYG BAN URGES UNSC TO EXTEND MINUSTAH MANDATE FOR ONE YEAR REF: A. USUN 747 ¶B. STATE 127801 ¶C. KUMAR-MROZINSKI TELCON Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Jeff DeLaurentis, per 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (U) During UNSC consultations on September 13, SYG Ban reported on his August 1-2 visit to Haiti and appealed to delegates to seize an "historic opportunity" to make progress in that country by staying the course and avoiding early disengagement. Recounting how he had walked through Cite Soleil, which was formerly controlled by gangs, Ban emphasized that Haitian President Preval is committed to ensuring the rule of law across Haiti and to building state institutions. Nevertheless, the security situation remains "tenuous," GOH institutions remain weak, and Haitian political opinion is divided. The SYG therefore concluded that Haiti will require international assistance for "some time to come" and urged UNSC members to support his recommendation for a one-year extension of the mandate of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) with the intention to renew for further periods. SC members reaction to the SYG's briefing was minimal due to his preceding report on his visit to Sudan (reftel). The Peruvian PR welcomed the SYG's commitment to Haiti, urged support for a larger MINUSTAH role in securing Haiti's land and sea borders, and urged continued UNSC support for the quick-impact projects (QUIPS) MINUSTAH has undertaken over the past three years. Peru also announced it had just convened discussions within the Group of Friends of Haiti on a draft resolution to extend MINUSTAH's mandate. ¶2. (C) The Peruvian Mission separately convened an initial meeting of Group of Friends experts on September 11 to exchange initial views on elements for a draft resolution to extend MINUSTAH's mandate. Per ref B, Poloff joined all other experts in expressing support for the recommendations in the SYG's report for a one-year mandate, minor adjustments in force levels, and an increase in MINUSTAH's maritime capabilities. Noting that Peru would leave the UNSC at the end of 2007, the Peruvian expert also expressed a desire on the part of Latin American countries to retain the leadership of the Group of Friends in 2008. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic are the likely candidates to succeed Peru in the Council, he noted, and neither of those countries contribute troops to MINUSTAH. He suggested it might therefore be useful to admit Panama into the Group of Friends now and allow it to lead the Group -- and therefore draft resolutions on MINUSTAH's mandate -- in 2008. France and Canada objected to Panama's inclusion in the Group of Friends on the grounds that it does not contribute troops to MINUSTAH. France proposed that a Latin American country continue to lead the Group in 2008 -- even if it is not in the UNSC -- and then let either France or the U.S. introduce the resolution in the Council on behalf of the Friends. Peru also noted that Uruguay, as the second-largest TCC in MINUSTAH, had asked to join the Group of Friends. Most experts agreed that Uruguay had a strong case for inclusion in the Group of Friends. Peru promised to continue to canvass opinions on this issue and report back at the next experts meeting on whether to expand the Group of Friends. KHALILZAD