AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD'S MONTHLY DISCUSSION WITH

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000379 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC JP SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD'S MONTHLY DISCUSSION WITH JAPANESE PERMREP ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Khalilzad met with Japanese PermRep Takasu on April 17 to discuss a range of issues, including Burma, Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, UN Security Council Reform and UN Budget and Management. Takasu said Japan was "very worried" about the situation in Burma, and was disappointed by Special Envoy Gambari,s recent visit. On North Korea, Takasu urged the U.S. to resume trilateral coordination with Japan and South Korea. He noted that DPRK,s best bargaining chip is the nuclear issue, and thus it will be difficult for them to give it up. On Security Council reform, Takasu expressed frustration with the slow nature of talks within the Open-Ended Working Group, and said the G4 was searching for ways to accelerate the start of inter-governmental negotiations. On UN Management and Reform, Ambassador Khalilzad and Takasu reaffirmed the need to impose discipline on the UN budget process. Takasu stressed the need for greater prudence in dealing with Special Political and Peacekeeping Missions. Ambassador Khalilzad asked Takasu to consider pushing for greater transparency and accountability in UN funds and programs by asking that they release their internal audits. End summary. BURMA ¶2. (SBU) Takasu said Japan was "very worried" about the situation in Burma, particularly the arrest of opposition members in the lead-up to the referendum. It was considering ways in which it can press the government to uphold its promise that the referendum be "free and fair." Ambassador Khalilzad supported Japanese efforts, and explained the current state of play on a UNSC Presidential Statement (PRST). If the Burmese authorities refuse to comply with Gambari,s proposal to travel to Burma and seek international monitors for the referendum, China must not block a PRST in the Security Council, said Ambassador Khalilzad. Takasu said Japanese Foreign Ministry officials have discussed Burma with the Chinese and Indians, among others, and have urged them to use their influence with Burmese authorities. Upon Ambassador Khalilzad,s request, Takasu agreed to recommend to Tokyo that the GOJ make another approach to the Burmese over the next few days. IRAN, DPRK, AFGHANISTAN ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad said the recent E3 3 meeting in Shanghai was positive, although inconclusive. The U.S. does not believe there is any current justification for a new negotiating package for Iran, but is keeping an open mind. Takasu said he understood U.S. reticence, especially given the situation in Iraq. On DPRK, Takasu said North Korea believes that its regime,s survival is at stake, and they will only with great effort move on their best bargaining chip - their nuclear weapons. Takasu said North Korea remains eager to speak to the U.S. as directly as possible, and he encouraged the U.S. to resume a trilateral consulting mechanism with Japan and South Korea. Ambassador Khalilzad said the U.S. has a good initial impression of SRSG for Afghanistan Kai Eide, and looks forward to the Paris Conference in June. He raised the possibility of approving a special package for UN staff serving in Afghanistan, similar to the package for UN staff in Iraq. Takasu said he would look at this issue, but noted the overall context of harmonization efforts for UN staff salaries. UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM ¶4. (SBU) Takasu emphasized that Security Council reform was Japan,s "top priority," and it is pushing for a concrete outcome during the 62nd session of the General Assembly. Despite Japan,s assessment that progress is possible, negotiating is stalled in the Open-Ended Working Group, said Takasu. Inter-governmental negotiations must start, and in this regard, Japan is considering ways to jumpstart the process. Ambassador Khalilzad reiterated U.S. support for Japan,s permanent membership in the Security Council, and noted several aspects of the U.S. position: modest overall size, not opposed to an interim approach but there cannot be automaticity, and new members must qualify for a seat. The Ambassador noted rumors that India may seek to submit a unilateral resolution with a "maximalist" approach that would overstep several U.S. red lines. Takasu agreed that the Council should maintain a modest overall size and said Japan would work for a strictly procedural resolution to move to the next phase of inter-governmental negotiations. UN MANAGEMENT AND REFORM ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad and Takasu , recalling that the Secretariat has already identified some one billion dollars SIPDIS in add ons, agreed for the need to impose discipline on the UN budget process. To this end, they agreed that any of the add ons scheduled for consideration in the coming May resumed session of the Fifth Committee that involve significant costs should be defered until the Fall where all of the add ons could all be considered together. This included the ICT and possibly the AOJ proposals. For the future, they agreed on the need to limit add-ons and avoid surprises. Takasu stressed the need for the Organization to adhere more strictly to existing budget provisions that were intended to avoid such problems, but which in recent years have not been followed. They agreed to urge the SYG to submit to the ACABQ long overdue reports on peacekeeping missions, particularly UNAMID and MINURCAT, so that the ACABQ can provide the Fifth Committee with its views in sufficient time for Member States to address those very large budgets in the May resumed session of the Committee. Takasu expressed the need to approach Special Political Missions with prudence given the large costs associated with those missions. Finally, Ambassador Khalilzad asked for the support and assistance of the GOJ in achieving greater transparency and accountability in the Funds and Programs. Ambassador Khalilzad, while referring to the reforms that the USG has proposed under the UNTAI initiative, specifically focused on the issue of the release of the internal audits to Member States and the efforts of some of the Funds and Programs to limit such disclosure only to future audits. Khalilzad