LEBANON: UNIIIC COMMISSIONER HAPPY WITH USG

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001451 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: UNIIIC COMMISSIONER HAPPY WITH USG ASSISTANCE BUT SEEKS TWO CRIMINAL ANALYSTS REF: BEIRUT 1348 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. See paragraph 10. SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) In an October 3 meeting with the Ambassador, Daniel Bellemare, Commissioner of the UN Independent Investigative Commission (UNIIIC),was generally pleased with USG assistance to date, and repeated a single request: that the USG loan two criminal analysts who would work out of The Hague (reftel). He expressed his flexibility to make this work, stressing that these analysts were his priority. Noting that UNIIIC's mandate will expire at the end of the year, he said the investigation component will not stop. He was feeling the deadline pressure, but remarked that the investigation was moving aggressively. The Special Tribunal budget is awaiting approval by the Management Committee in New York, he reported. He did not yet foresee a problem with approval, but he informed the Ambassador that the UNIIIC budget was short two to three million dollars and he had requested approval for a supplementary budget. The FBI would continue to pay the analysts' salaries, which would be considered a USG contribution, and UNIIIC would cover travel and per diem expenses, he suggested. End summary. INVESTIGATION MOVING ALONG; TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) The Ambassador, accompanied by LegAtt and PolOff, met Daniel Bellemare, Commissioner of the UN Independent Investigative Commission (UNIIIC),at his office in Monteverde on October 3. A confident Bellemare said he felt things are bubbling in his investigation and that his operation was running aggressively like a "police investigation," while noting that time was running out. (Note: UNIIIC's mandate will expire on December 31, 2008. End note.) He expressed a concern about Syria, saying simply, "We are afraid we may run out of witnesses. Time is of the essence, but we do not want to strike prematurely." HAPPY WITH USG ASSISTANCE; REQUESTS CRIMINAL ANALYSTS -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) LegAtt reported that the USG had responded to almost all of the outstanding RFAs, but warned that the FBI may not be able to provide the criminal analysts requested (reftel). Bellemare inquired what was necessary to make these individuals available to UNIIIC. Bellemare proposed that the analysts work out of The Hague, where he said space was not an issue, on a contract basis. The FBI would continue to pay the analysts' salaries, which would be considered a USG contribution, and UNIIIC would cover travel and per diem expenses, he suggested. ¶5. (S/NF) Appearing satisfied with USG assistance, Bellemare said in reference to previous requests for data-mining analysts, "I would never turn down help. If I have to prioritize, I need the criminal analysts the most." He said he hoped for analysts' assistance as soon as possible, to work until UNIIIC's mandate expires. He inquired whether the clearance for the new UNIIIC Chief of Investigations, Garry James Loeppky, was granted for the Intelligence Community Working Group. ¶6. (S/NF) While UNIIIC's mandate will expire, he continued, the investigation will not, implying that he would still need many of the analysts currently contracted out to UNIIIC. He noted that he had started contacting organizations to see if they will agree to transfer their contracted personnel to The Hague, to which he had received positive responses. Bellemare said there was a provision in the draft budget for "internal contractors and secondees." BEIRUT 00001451 002 OF 002 PRESS REPORT "UNHELPFUL" -------------- ¶7. (S/NF) Addressing the October 1 al-Anwar article purporting that Bellemare will name 120 suspects in his final report, Bellemare said he had no idea who or how this story was concocted. He explained that he had to have his new spokesperson respond to the press report, though he usually preferred to remain silent. He suggested that the Ambassador could be helpful in letting political figures know that these kinds of articles are unhelpful. ¶8. (S/NF) He said he had visited President Michel Sleiman and PM Fouad Siniora in the previous month to convey to them that his investigation would not be tied to a political timetable. He added that in the coming two months, UNIIIC investigators would be more visible as they conduct interviews with political figures. AWAITING BUDGET APPROVAL -------------- ¶9. (S/NF) Bellemare said that he had submitted the operating budget to the Special Tribunal's Management Committee, and was now awaiting approval. On UNIIIC's budget, he relayed that currently he was having internal discussions with the new UN comptroller on a supplementary budget because he projected that he will be two or three million dollars short. It was not a problem yet, he said, but he wanted to make the Ambassador aware in case the amount was not approved. He said that he may need USG assistance in pushing for the supplementary budget's approval. ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶10. (S/NF) Post requests a response to UNIIIC's request that the USG loan two criminal analysts to interview witnesses, or information on what response is given to Bellemare. End Action Request. SISON