63RD UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 072078 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA SUBJECT: 63RD UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HIGH-LEVEL ATTENDANCE AND REQUESTS FOR MEETINGS , ¶1. This is an action request - see paragraphs 5-7 Background -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The 63rd UN General Assembly (UNGA) will run from September 16 through mid-December 2008. The UNGA General Debate, when Heads of State/Government, Foreign Ministers, and/or heads of delegation deliver speeches, will begin on September 23 and run through October 1. As part of the UNGA, there will be a High-Level meeting on the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) on September 22, a High-Level Meeting on Millenium Development Goals on September 25, and high-level plenary meetings devoted to the midterm review of the Almaty Program of Action on October 2-3. On the margins of the UNGA, the U.S. and EU will hold their semi-annual Consultations on International Organizations (CONUN) on September 29. Septel will contain an action request concerning U.S. initiatives for the 63rd UNGA. ¶3. (SBU) No commitments regarding the President's or the Secretary's participation in the 63rd UNGA have been made. Announcements regarding the President's and/or Secretary's participation are unlikely to be made until much closer to the start of the 63rd UNGA. Traditionally, the President has delivered the U.S. address on the opening day of the General Debate. Similarly, in the past, the Secretary has accompanied the President to New York and remained for additional days of meetings on the margins of the UNGA. Nonetheless, posts should refrain from speculating on the participation of the President or the Secretary. ¶4. (U) Many foreign leaders are expected to attend at least part of the UNGA General Debate. Many will seek appointments with senior USG officials during this period. Any request from a host government for a meeting with the President or Secretary should be acknowledged without commitment and cabled to the Department. Action Request -------------- ¶5. (U) Posts in UN member countries are requested to submit initial information by August 1 on the attendance of host country government officials at the 63rd UNGA General Debate. If host country is unable to confirm high-level attendance by August 1, posts should submit an interim report and provide updated information as soon as it is available. Updated information should be submitted separately, not as part of a telegram that addresses other subjects. ¶6. (U) Owing to the large number of visitors, we ask posts' assistance in following precisely the format in paragraph 8 and providing timely replies. Both will be essential in facilitating logistics and protocol support, and for scheduling meetings. ¶7. (U) Please address all replies to the Department and USUN New York. Slug original updates for IO/UNP (Sun), USUN (TBD),NSC (McDonald) and P (Reinemeyer). Please also address replies to the appropriate regional bureau UNGA coordinator: AF/RSA (Haldeman, Barlerin),EAP/RSP (Tikvart),EUR/PGI (Tessler),NEA/RA (Arvis, Langevin), SCA/RA (Mazzone),or WHA/PPC (Berg). Standard Response Format -------------- ¶8. (U) Posts are requested to provide responses in the following format: ¶A. Attendance of the Head of State (If no plans to attend UNGA, so state.) -- Name and title. -- Arrival and departure dates to and from New York and other U.S. locations, and whether the Head of State will be present for the General Debate. -- Whether spouse of the Head of State (if any) will travel to New York. If so, please provide the spouse's STATE 00072078 002 OF 002 name. -- Whether interpretation would be required in a bilateral or multilateral meeting. If so, please specify what language. ¶B. Attendance of the Head of Government. (If no plans to attend UNGA, so state.) -- Name and title. -- Arrival and departure dates to and from New York and other U.S. locations, and whether the head of government will be present for the General Debate. -- Whether the spouse of the Head of Government (if any) will travel to New York. If so, please provide the spouse's name. -- Whether interpretation would be required in a bilateral or multilateral meeting. If so, please specify what language. ¶C. Attendance of the Foreign Minister. (If no plans to attend UNGA, so state.) -- Name and title. -- Arrival and departure dates to and from New York and other U.S. locations, and whether the Foreign Minister will be present for the General Debate. -- Whether the spouse of the Foreign Minister (if any) will travel to New York. If so, please provide the spouse's name. -- Whether interpretation would be required in bilateral or multilateral meetings. If so, please specify what language. ¶D. Attendance of other VIPs. (If no plans to attend UNGA, so state.) -- Name and title. -- Arrival and departure dates to and from New York and whether the VIP will be present for the General Debate. -- Whether the spouse of the VIP (if any) will travel to New York. If so, please provide the spouse's name. -- Whether interpretation would be required in bilateral or multilateral meetings. If so, please specify what language. ¶E. Attendance of the Foreign Ministry official responsible for IO affairs. (If no plans to attend UNGA, so state.) -- Name and title. -- Arrival and departure dates in New York. -- Whether the spouse of the Foreign Ministry official (if any) will travel to New York. If so, please provide the spouse's name. -- Whether interpretation would be required in bilateral or multilateral meetings. If so, please specify what language. ¶9. Minimize considered. RICE