Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK262
2008-03-21 17:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD ATTENDS INFORMAL PLENARY ON

Tags:  AORC KUNC KUNR UNGA 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0262 0811737
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211737Z MAR 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3970
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000262 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNC KUNR UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD ATTENDS INFORMAL PLENARY ON
MANDATE REVIEW

REF: A. SECSTATE 27756

B. USUN 230
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000262

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SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNC KUNR UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD ATTENDS INFORMAL PLENARY ON
MANDATE REVIEW

REF: A. SECSTATE 27756

B. USUN 230

1.(U) Summary. On March 17, 2007, the Co-Chairs (New Zealand
and Namibia) conveyed an Informal Plenary on mandate review
for informal consultations among Member States. The purpose
of consultation was for Co-Chairs to receive feedback,
comments and questions from Member States on the Co-Chairs
preliminary analysis of the humanitarian cluster. Per
instruction, Ambassador Khalilzad conveyed the points
provided by the Department in reftel A. Ambassador Khalilzad
also stated that USUN planned to submit more detailed
comments on the mandates in the humanitarian cluster to the
Co-Chairs as soon as possible. A number of Member States
delivered statements, including the U.S. Egypt on behalf of
the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC),Slovakia (EU),
Pakistan, Switzerland and Australia. In addition, some Member
States affected by country-specific mandates including
Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Comoros delivered
statements. While delegations expressed general support for
the Co-Chairs methodology, Member States requested additional
information, including budgetary information, from the
Secretariat and also requested elaboration and justification

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of the comments provided by the Co-Chairs on the individual
mandates. The Co-Chairs requested that Member States submit
any additional questions and/or comments by March 21, 2008,
so that the Co-Chairs are in a position to circulate a
revised version of their analysis that reflects Member State
input. The Co-Chairs also indicated that the next
consultation will be an informal working group. End Summary.

2.(U) Per instruction, Ambassador Khalilzad conveyed points
provided by the Department in reftel A. Ambassador Khalilzad
particularly stressed that the U.S. expected the Secretariat
to provide all possible assistance and information to the
Co-Chairs and to Member States. Ambassador Khalilzad also
stated that USUN planned to submit more detailed comments on
the mandates in the humanitarian cluster to the Co-Chairs as
soon as possible.

3.(U) After opening comments from Ambassador Mbuende
(Namibia),Egypt on behalf of the Joint Coordinating
Committee (JCC),stated the JCC believed some of the limited
number of "red" mandates (which signifies mandates on which
action is required to fill gap) or discontinue) should be
reclassified as "green" (which signifies that the mandate
reflects current need, and is effectively implemented). Egypt
also stated that Member States should fully examine whether
the gaps in implementation of mandates are in anyway related
to inadequacy of resources. With respect to financial and
budgetary information, Egypt stated it would be helpful to
Member States if they knew whether resources were funded
through regular or through extra budgetary resources.

4.(U) Japan noted that while the Co-Chairs provided comments
for each mandate in their preliminary analysis, these
comments lacked supporting evidence and/or analysis. Japan
noted that the lack of supporting evidence and analysis made
it difficult for Member States to "make informed judgments"
on mandates. Japan also stressed the importance for Member
States to have financial information from the Secretariat
whenever possible and also for more information from the
Secretariat regarding responsibilities of implementing

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entities. Japan also cautioned the Co-Chairs should not be
too ambitious in their working methods and recognize
thoroughness as on par with efficiency.


5.(U) Switzerland stressed the guiding principal for mandate
review was value for money - a principal which can only be
achieved through improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Accordingly, Switzerland acknowledged the need for budgetary
information on the various mandates and the activities of
mandates so that Member States could gauge whether mandates
were implemented in a cost-effective manner. Switzerland
support for budgetary considerations was followed with a
recommendation that generation of mandates should be
considered part of the regular budget process. Switzerland
also questioned whether Member States need to make decision
with respect to every individual mandate as this would amount
to "micro-managament."

6.(U) As noted above, The Co-Chairs requested additional
feedback and comments from Member States by the week of March
24, 2008. USUN/MR is developing specific comments on the 279
mandates in the humanitarian assistance cluster for
submission to the Co-Chairs. Included in these comments will
be suggestion that Member States utilize the forthcoming
thematic debate to engage in a higher-level dialogue on the
mandate review generation, monitoring and evaluation cycle.
KHALILZAD