SRSG KAI EIDE'S REQUESTS TO UN HEADQUARTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000613

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF
SUBJECT: SRSG KAI EIDE'S REQUESTS TO UN HEADQUARTERS

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

B. USUN 585

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR JEFF DELAURENTIS, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/
D


1. (C) Summary: In advance of SRSG Kai Eide,s meetings in
Washington, below is a summary of what he needs from UN
Headquarters, what USUN has done to support him, and what we
plan to do in the future. End summary.

WHAT EIDE NEEDS


2. (C) Eide has requested UN Headquarters action on two broad
issues: UNAMA,s structure and recruitment (ref A.) He wants
a three-pillar structure (political, development/aid
effectiveness, and humanitarian),with the heads of each
pillar having the senior-level title of Deputy SRSG. On
recruitment, he wants UNHQ support for quick hiring, quick
removal of "dead wood," and reducing the vacancy rate.

WHAT USUN HAS DONE


3. (C) In response to ref A, Ambassador Khalilzad met with UN
Under-Secretary-General Guehenno on July 1 (ref B). Guehenno
is the head of UN Peacekeeping, which manages UNAMA. On
structure, Guehenno supported the three-pillar idea, but
noted UNDP and the UN,s Office of Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) would need to be convinced. As
follow-up, Ambassador Khalilzad and Guehenno met with
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Issues John Holmes
on July 8. Holmes said OCHA will not undermine Eide,s
authority, but noted it might be useful for OCHA to have a
quasi-independent role from UNAMA. Ambassador Khalilzad and
Guehenno opposed this idea, saying that the net result of any
"one foot in, one foot out" approach would mean the dilution
of Eide,s authority. Holmes said he would speak with Eide
on this issue, and reiterated that he did not seek to
undermine Eide.


4. (C) On recruitment, the UN,s budget committee approved a
special allowance for UNAMA personnel. Guehenno thanked the
Ambassador for USUN,s efforts in this regard, saying the UN
is committed to reducing the current 30 percent vacancy rate
to 15 percent within three months, and then to 10 percent by
the end of the year. Guehenno later mentioned that Eide
would like each D/SRSG in the three-pillar structure to be at
the Assistant-Secretary-General level, which would mean an
increase in the pay and resources devoted to each D/SRSG.
Guehenno proposed that the UN move quickly to approve the
three-pillar structure and fill the D/SRSG slots with those
candidates Eide wanted, although those installed at the
D/SRSG level would be placed at interim levels below that of
Assistant-Secretary-General. Transforming the slots to
Assistant-Secretary-General level would take some time, and
the priority should be on setting up the structure.

WHAT USUN PLANS TO DO


5. (C) Following the meeting with Holmes, Ambassador
Khalilzad and Guehenno will also meet with UNDP Administrator
Kemal Dervis to argue in favor of Eide,s "three-pillar"
approach to restructuring UNAMA. USUN will continue to press
for swift UN adoption of Eide,s restructuring plans. On
personnel, the elevation in rank of the D/SRSG,s to
Assistant-Secretary-General level will necessitate an
increase in UNAMA,s budget. The budget is likely to
increase significantly because of several other actions, such
as UNAMA,s decision to open six additional provincial
offices in Afghanistan, two in 2008 and four in 2009. USUN
will push for speedy approval of UNAMA,s upcoming budget
request. It is negotiating a draft Security Council
Presidential Statement (PRST) that will express the
Council,s strong support for Eide,s restructuring plans and
future budget requests.
Khalilzad