Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE40180
2008-04-16 22:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

ACTION REQUEST: DEMARCHE ON ZIMBABWE CHAIR OF UN

Tags:  SENV AORC PREL EAGR EUN EAID ECON 
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UNCLAS STATE 040180 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
FOR US EU AND EMB BRUSSELS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AORC PREL EAGR EUN EAID ECON
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: DEMARCHE ON ZIMBABWE CHAIR OF UN
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


UNCLAS STATE 040180

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
FOR US EU AND EMB BRUSSELS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AORC PREL EAGR EUN EAID ECON
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: DEMARCHE ON ZIMBABWE CHAIR OF UN
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT



1. This is an Action Request. Please see paragraphs 5 and

6.


2. The May 5 - 16 meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD-16) will be chaired by Zimbabwe's Minister
of Environment and Tourism, Francis Nhema. The Zimbabwean
chairmanship is particularly troubling in light of the CSD's
themes this year - agriculture, rural development, land,
drought, desertification, and Africa - areas in which
Zimbabwe President Mugabe's rule has been especially
egregious. We unsuccessfully fought Nhema's election to the
chair last year.


3. The situation in Zimbabwe is worsening daily, with little
progress made towards a political solution. It is unlikely
that a possible runoff election will be held prior to CSD-16.
We understand as well from recent media reports that Nhema
has played a questionable role in the redistribution of
farmland. Under these circumstances, a Zimbabwean chairing a
UN body on sustainable development runs counter to U.S.
attempts to reform the United Nations and raises questions
about the CSD as a credible forum for addressing these
issues.


4. As a result, the U.S. Government is reviewing its level
of participation at CSD-16. Under normal circumstances Under
Secretary Dobriansky would lead the U.S. delegation; however,

SIPDIS
this is unlikely unless there is a dramatic improvement in
the political situation in Zimbabwe before the CSD begins, or
Zimbabwe does not chair CSD-16. We expect that a Deputy
Assistant Secretary career officer will represent the U.S.
instead.


5. Action Request (except Embassy Tel Aviv): Embassy is
requested to demarche the appropriate Foreign, Environment or
other Ministry officials to encourage Governments to join us
in lowering their level of representation at CSD-16 and to
report back as soon as possible.


6. Embassy may wish to draw from the following points:

-- Absent a positive and peaceful resolution of the political
conflict in Zimbabwe, or Zimbabwe not chairing the meeting,
we believe Governments should seriously consider lowering
their level of representation at CSD-16 for the following
reasons:

-- A high-level official or political presence in meetings
officiated by a Zimbabwean Minister would encourage the
abuses in Zimbabwe and display support for a broken UN
system.

-- We should not validate Zimbabwe as a champion or
practitioner of sustainable development.

-- A Zimbabwean chairmanship damages the credibility of the
Commission and Member States efforts in the realm of
sustainable development.

-- Sending a lower-than-normal level official to head the
delegation sends a quiet but clear message that a Zimbabwean
chairmanship of a CSD session devoted to rural development in
Africa is unacceptable.

-- Although we encourage an apolitical CSD in which practical
discourse takes place, under these circumstances, we believe
we should display our genuine support for sustainable
development by making it clear that a Zimbabwean chairmanship
is not acceptable in terms of sustainable development or UN
credibility and reform.

-- We recognize the importance of balancing the impact on our
broader sustainable development policy with our overall
policy of reforming the UN. We want to ensure that any
political signal we send will not be at the expense of our
ongoing commitment to sustainable development and the CSD.
The U.S. delegation will demonstrate this commitment through
its contributions to, and active and constructive
participation in, the sessions and side events of CSD-16.

-- We are approaching most OECD members with this request to
seek views and determine if there is support for a collective
action.


7. Action Request Embassy Tel Aviv: Embassy is requested to
inform appropriate Environment or other Ministry officials
that we are taking this action. This is a courtesy because
Israel is the WEOG Bureau member for CSD-16; we are not
asking it to take any specific action.


8. Please slug responses to IO/EDA Rebecca Webber
(WebberRE@state.gov) and OES/ENV Keri Holland
(HollandKJ@state.gov).
RICE