AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD ATTENDS INFORMAL PLENARY ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000262 SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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