UNGA DISCUSSES UNSC REPORT; CALLS FOR MORE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001118 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KUNR UNSC UNGA SUBJECT: UNGA DISCUSSES UNSC REPORT; CALLS FOR MORE SUBSTANCE AND ANALYSIS; NOTES SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The General Assembly met November 18-20 to discuss Security Council expansion (Septel),as well as the annual Report on the Security Council. Unlike in the past, a large number of member states devoted significant time to discussing the Report. President of the General Assembly (PGA) Miguel D'Escoto's November 11 call for member states to review the text carefully and hold the Council accountable, coupled with ongoing discussions of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security Council expansion, contributed to this renewed interest. As in last year's debate, many states continue to call on the Security Council (SC) to produce a report that is more analytical and substantive. Others, including current Security Council President Costa Rica, praised former Security Council President Vietnam for its efforts to improve the Report, including gathering member states to discuss what they wanted to see in it. Some noted that the Report comprised a more comprehensive overview of the Council's activities. As in the past, many member states continued to call for greater participation and transparency; however, their representation at SC meetings has not reflected a comparable level of interest. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. Introductory Remarks -------------- ¶2. (U) Vice President of the General Assembly Zahir Tanin of Afghanistan delivered PGA D'Escoto's statement in which he quoted former PGA Srgjan Kerim's summation of the 2007 debate, "Some serious concerns were expressed regarding the report, in particular the lack of comprehensive evaluations" of the Council's deliberations. D'Escoto's statement added, "If the Report indeed lacks evaluation and analysis, then the Assembly should make its own." Introduction of the Report -------------- ¶3. (U) President of the Security Council (PSC) for the month of November, Costa Rican Perm-Rep Jorge Urbina presented the Report, noting that the Council faced increasingly complex responsibilities in shouldering its mandate. He said that the Report provided insight on how the Council addressed an array of issues, and included detailed accounts of briefings and meetings. Urbina said it would be wise to consider how much more analysis could be expected from such a report. General Debate Begins: Costa Rica Speaks Out of Turn -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Urbina then delivered his national remarks and urged future presidents to follow Vietnam's "good practice," referring to the meeting it held for member states to provide input into what they would like to see in the Report and an expanded introduction. To improve the Report, he said it should analyze the Council's achievements and failures, and address participation of the body's non-members. On the Oil-for-Fool Program, he clarified that Cost Rica was not against closing the program, but rather called for the established rules to be followed concerning the presentation of documentation "attesting" to Iraq's receipt of services and products. (COMMENT: Costa Rica had negotiated with Security Council members that Urbina would deliver the Presidency's remarks agreed to by SC members and then later in the day deliver his national remarks. However, at the insistence of his Foreign Minister, who was present, Urbina delivered his national remarks immediately following his remarks as president, which afforded his national remarks a higher profile than they would have otherwise received. END COMMENT.) Praise for PSC Vietnam; Additional Suggestions for Improvement -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) Colombia and Cuba highlighted Vietnam's work as Council president in providing guidelines for how the Council works and in informing the body's non-members of the Report's preparation process. They also said that monthly briefing sessions would provide an opportunity for establishing a dialogue. Italy said that the Report and its annexes give a wide variety of perspectives, but added that within that section there existed a constant refrain to deal with the representation of regional groups. ¶6. (U) Switzerland spoke at length about the Report, acknowledging improvements concerning content and offering a number of recommendations. Regarding the Report's introduction, Switzerland (as well as Japan) said that it offers a better overview of the Council's regional and thematic work but argued that it could be more analytical. To improve the Report it suggested that it reflect the Council's assessment and rationales, devote more content to the "execution and obstacles" of resolutions, and assert how the Council intends to handle new challenges. As with other member states, it also expressed appreciation for PSC Vietnam's preparation for the Report. Calls for More Analysis and Substance -------------- ¶7. (U) Though Vietnam had made changes to the Report, several member states, such as Indonesia and Tunisia, argued that the Report should be more substantive and analytical. Mauritania asserted that the Report needed to include the status of issues on which the Council has not taken action. Bahrain argued that the Report should address the Council's failures so that member states could figure out how best to resolve them. Wolff