LEBANON TRIBUNAL: MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DISCUSSES

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000435 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON TRIBUNAL: MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DISCUSSES BUILDING, STAFFING, AND FUNDING ISSUES REF: A. USUN 384 ¶B. STATE 33659 ¶C. IO/USUN EMAIL (REINEMEYER/WILCOX)-05/08/08 ¶D. USUN 239 ¶E. USUN 171 ¶F. USUN 1138 (2007) ¶1. (SBU) BEGIN SUMMARY: At its meeting on May 9, the Management Committee for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) continued to make progress on issues relating to staffing and funding, as well as the management of construction needed to prepare the building that will house the STL. The UN Secretariat subsequently advised USUN that the Russian Federation has contributed USD 500,000 to the STL. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Committee members discussed the revised proposal for managing the construction/refurbishment project at the building the Dutch government has provided to house the STL (refs A-B). In response to USUN's question about whether the proposal provided for independent review of the project construction (ref C),STL Registrar Vincent explained that Phil Mitnick, an architect and construction expert on loan to the STL from the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia, would function in that capacity. Vincent also agreed to leave open the possibility of engaging independent consultants as needed. ¶3. (SBU) Committee members also commented on the draft financial regulations and rules for the STL, which the UN Secretariat prepared (refs D-F). The draft financial regulations and rules are based on the UN's financial regulations and rules, with appropriate modifications to reflect the STL's specific circumstances, and will provide an oversight mechanism for the STL's finances. Once the Committee has approved the draft regulations and rules, Vincent can establish an account for the STL. With donors' consent, the UN can then transfer contributions from the UN Trust Fund for the STL to the STL account, allowing the STL to save the 13 percent administrative fee that the UN assesses on contributions to its trust funds. ¶4. (SBU) The Committee also discussed the proposed application for the STL to join the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, which the UK Committee Chairman subsequently submitted to the Fund. ¶5. (SBU) STL Registrar Vincent also briefed members on his plans to post a ten-person advance team in The Hague, comprising legal, budgetary, information technology, human resources, security/safety, and building management experts. Vincent explained that the team can begin working in The Hague after the STL assumes the lease for the AIVD Building, the Committee approves the financial rules and regulations for the STL, approves the STL's staff regulations and rules, and approves the budget. Vincent said he expected to provide the draft staff regulations and rules and budget to the Committee soon. ¶6. (SBU) The Committee will meet again on May 16. Khalilzad