SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000030 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC SUBJECT: SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON MEETS WITH SECURITY COUNCIL AMBASSADORS Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) Summary: During a lunch January 10 with Security Council Ambassadors, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed Sudan, Burma, Kosovo, and several other issues. On the margins of the meeting, Ban,s deputy chief of staff Kim Won Soon said South Korea is willing to provide helicopter pilots to the peacekeeping force in Darfur, but does not believe its helicopters are appropriate for the mission, and therefore requested that another country provide the helicopters. On Burma, the SYG said he had relayed to the Burmese government that its failure to provide Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari with a visa so far was "unacceptable." On Kosovo, Ban said he was personally in a very difficult position, but would begin discussions with NATO on contingency planning. End summary. SUDAN ¶2. (C) Ban told the Ambassadors that he spoke with Bashir on Saturday, January 5. Ban was not encouraged by the conversation. He told Bashir that UNAMID was a high-risk mission, and that it must include early implementation of the hybrid force. Ban said DPKO,s Jane Holl Lute will now visit Sudan, followed by Under Secretary-General for DPKO Jean-Marie Guehenno. Ban and Bashir will meet on the margins of the AU summit in Addis 1/27-28. ¶3. (C) Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Won Soo told Ambassador Khalilzad after the lunch that South Korea had helicopter pilots to offer, but did not have the appropriate helicopters. Kim asked whether the U.S. could come up with a creative solution. BURMA ¶4. (C) Ban said the Burmese refusal of the visa to Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari was unacceptable, and he relayed that message to the Burmese. He had also received additional "indications" that the situation was not good. He believed that after Gambari's visit to India and China, Gambari will go to Burma. KOSOVO ¶5. (C) Ban said it was important to understand that he is personally in a difficult situation. He will begin discussions with NATO on future contingences. Several EU Ambassadors spoke with Ambassador Khalilzad afterwards, and wondered why Ban had only mentioned NATO and not the EU. OTHER ISSUES ¶6. (C) Ban brought up Kenya, saying that he had numerous conversations with both sides. He announced that former SYG Kofi Annan is going to help mediate. The UN,s Department of Political Affairs will offer support to Annan. On DRC, Ban received a briefing from departing SRSG Swing. Ban was disappointed that President Kabila did not attend a peace conference meeting on the eastern Congo, but believed that Kabila hesitated because of personal security concerns. Finally, on Lebanon, Ban spoke with Amr Moussa regarding the Arab League initiative on Lebanese elections. Ban is supportive of the initiative. KHALILZAD