UN HEADQUARTERS SUPPORTIVE OF SRSG EIDE'S REQUESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000585

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC AF
SUBJECT: UN HEADQUARTERS SUPPORTIVE OF SRSG EIDE'S REQUESTS
FOR UNAMA

REF: A. WOOD-KHALILZAD 6/29 E-MAIL

B. USUN 572

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: On July 1, Ambassador Khalilzad spoke with
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)
Jean-Marie Guehenno regarding UN Headquarters support for the
United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) and
SRSG Kai Eide. Guehenno said DPKO supported Eide,s requests
(ref A),but noted that the heads of UNDP and OCHA would
still need to be convinced on the necessity of Eide,s
proposed changes. The Ambassador and Guehenno agreed to
consult further in the coming days and to meet jointly with
the heads of UNDP and OCHA. Guehenno also thanked the
Ambassador for U.S. support for the special allowance for
UNAMA staff in Afghanistan, which was approved by the ACABQ
budget committee (ref B). He expected this would lead to a
significant decrease in the vacancy rate - currently at 30
per cent. ACTION REQUEST AT PARA 6. End summary.

THREE PILLARS/UNDP


2. (C) Guehenno confirmed DPKO support for Eide,s concept of
three UNAMA pillars, each led by a D/SRSG. The political
pillar would be led by Chris Alexander and later by his
successor. The development/aid effectiveness pillar would be
led by Mark Ward, and the humanitarian pillar would be led by
Anita Nirody. Guehenno said UNDP objects to splitting the
traditional humanitarian/development pillar into two distinct
pillars, for fear that this would lead to a dilution of UNDP
authority not only in Afghanistan but in other missions
worldwide. He added that Nirody has an excellent reputation,
but her rank within the UNDP system is not considered high
enough to lead the humanitarian pillar. Guehenno supported
the idea of a joint meeting with UNDP Administrator Kemal
Dervis to push him to accept the three pillar concept as well
as to accept Nirody as head of the humanitarian pillar.
Guehenno said he would raise these issues with UNDP Associate
Administrator Ad Melkert on July 2, and afterwards would
contact the Ambassador to discuss next steps and schedule the
meeting with Dervis.

DPKO SUPPORTS UNIFIED UN PRESENCE


3. (C) Guehenno also supported Eide,s desire for a more
unified UN presence, in contrast to Under-Secretary-General
John Holmes, push for an independent OCHA office in
Afghanistan. Holmes is under pressure from humanitarian NGOs
and his own office to push for this independent OCHA office,
said Guehenno. The Ambassador and Guehenno agreed to meet
jointly with Holmes to push for his acceptance of a more
unified UN presence.

RECRUITMENT


4. (C) Guehenno thanked the Ambassador for U.S. efforts in
the ACABQ budget committee to approve a special allowance for
UN personnel serving in Afghanistan. He said the UN is
committed to reduce the current 30 per cent vacancy rate to
15 per cent within three months, and then to 10 per cent by
the end of the year. Eide told Guehenno that he was already
beginning to see the vacancy rate decrease. Regarding the
problem of "dead wood," Guehenno said the priority was
getting the right people in a few critical positions. UNAMA
staff are on limited 6-month contracts, and the UN can choose
not to renew the contracts of underperforming personnel.
Guehenno added that Eide wants "sufficient diversity" within
UNAMA staff. He would like to get good people from areas
outside of Europe and North America.

EXPANSION


5. (C) In its forthcoming report to the Security Council,
Guehenno said the UN will announce plans to open 6 additional
offices in Afghanistan, two in 2008 and four in 2009
(provided they receive sufficient funding in 2009). In order
to open the offices as quickly as possible, the UN will need
to negotiate in extremis support agreements with NATO/ISAF.

LIAISON WITH ISAF


6. (C) The Ambassador asked if current UNAMA liaison with
ISAF was sufficiently robust, especially at the strategic
level. Guehenno said that Eide has a senior military advisor
from Canada, General Skidmore, who is "very well connected"
with ISAF. He added that Eide will also need a strong chief
of staff to ensure that coordination with ISAF occurs on a
routine basis. ACTION REQUEST: USUN requests Department and
Embassy Kabul input regarding the status of UNAMA,s
relationship with ISAF. Specifically, is coordination

USUN NEW Y 00000585 002 OF 002


sufficient at the strategic level to ensure that ISAF actions
are complemented by UNAMA-coordinated civilian reconstruction
efforts? END ACTION REQUEST.
Khalilzad