UNGA PRESIDENT PROPOSES MECHANISM TO MOVE FORWARD

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000882

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC
SUBJECT: UNGA PRESIDENT PROPOSES MECHANISM TO MOVE FORWARD
ON UNSC REFORM

Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, per 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) During a meeting with Ambassador Khalilzad on October
17, President of the UN General Assembly (PGA) Srgjan Kerim
proposed that he convene a "Group of Friends" to agree on the
modalities and the substantive elements for the
inter-governmental negotiations on UNSC reform set to begin
in the 2007-08 session of the Open-Ended Working Group
(OEWG). This group would be comprised of approximately ten
PermReps in addition to the PGA. Although he did not specify
which ten countries he would invite to join, USUN has learned
that Kerim is considering asking two countries from each UN
regional group. While acknowledging that several delegates
have reacted skeptically to his idea, Kerim seemed determined
to press ahead and possibly announce the Group and its
members as early as the November 12 UNGA plenary session on
UNSC reform. The PGA said he would not/not move forward with
this idea, however, until after he has had a chance to
discuss it with Secretary Rice. Separately, Kerim's staff
has asked USUN for U.S. views on an idea floated by the
Belgian FM during the General Debate that the SYG appoint a
high-level envoy to travel to capitals to achieve consensus
on UNSC reform and then present a resolution to the UNGA for
an up-or-down vote.


2. (C) Most delegations contacted by USUN questioned whether
the PGA could assemble a group that would be both
representative of the wider membership and a productive forum
in which to move the UNSC reform process forward. In these
discussions, delegates suggested two possible ways the PGA
might select members: invite leaders of the G-4 and Uniting
for Consensus (UFC) as well as all or most of the P-5 --
although this model would be at odds with selecting two
members from each regional group, or invite ten members
without any clear allegiances on UNSC reform. The first
model risks gridlock while the second risks complaints of
exclusion and lack of representativeness. Within the P-5,
the Russians and Chinese seem least enthusiastic about the
idea for a Group of Friends, because they believe P-5
membership in the Group would suggest eventual P-5 support
for the UNSC reform elements it produces. The British and
French, while skeptical of the value of the group, believe
their capitals would want to join. Within the G-4, the
Japanese and Indians are split on the tactical wisdom of the
PGA convening such a group, while UFC countries are generally
opposed to a role for the PGA in setting the basis for
inter-governmental negotiations.


3. (C) Comment: USUN has preliminarily told the PGA's staff
that, should Kerim decide to move forward with the Group of
Friends idea, it should be devoted to achieving broad-based
reform of the UN, including Security Council reform. We have
also told Kerim's staff that formation of this group and
agreement on its terms of reference should take place after
the SYG's planned retreat on UN reform in November 2007 with
select PermReps. USUN has also told the Belgians that their
idea for a high-level envoy on UNSC reform should not be
pursued at this time.
KHALILZAD