Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK760
2007-09-17 17:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:  

SYG BAN URGES UNSC TO EXTEND MINUSTAH MANDATE FOR

Tags:  PREL KPKO UNSC HA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9552
OO RUEHQU
DE RUCNDT #0760 2601726
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 171726Z SEP 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2596
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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).

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