UNGA: PRESIDENT AGREES NOT TO ACCELERATE TIMELINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000960 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018 TAGS: PREL EFIN KUNR UNSC UNGA IN BR PK IT JP GM SUBJECT: UNGA: PRESIDENT AGREES NOT TO ACCELERATE TIMELINE OF UNSC REFORM NEGOTIATIONS; MOVING AHEAD ON GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS PANEL DISCUSSION REF: A. USUN NEW YORK 927 ¶B. USUN NEW YORK 840 USUN NEW Y 00000960 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Khalilzad told the President of the UN General Assembly (PGA) October 20 that the PGA's decision to accelerate intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council expansion had alienated a number of significant countries including the U.S., which had helped facilitate the compromise decision and timeline during the last session. The PGA said he had not realized the significance of the dates in the decision document and said he would "soft-pedal" his previous decision and not formally launch negotiations November 21. The Afghan Perm Rep who has been named by the PGA to chair the negotiations told Ambassador Khalilzad October 20 that he would make the November 21 meeting a short preparatory meeting only. The PGA confirmed he plans to hold an Interactive Panel on the Global Financial Crisis, October 30, with five experts who will discuss the subject and take questions from member states. On the Saudi-proposed High-level meeting scheduled for November 12-13, the PGA confirmed that he expects at least 30 heads of state, including the Pakistani president. End summary. UN Security Council Reform -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Khalilzad raised in an October 20 meeting with the President of the General Assembly (PGA) Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann his concern that the PGA's decision to accelerate intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council expansion (ref A) had alienated a number of significant countries. Ambassador Khalilzad described the role he had played September 15 in facilitating the compromise decision (62/557) and the importance of the timeline in those negotiations (ref B). He urged the PGA to signal to the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) bloc that the Open-ending Working Group (OEWG) should make every effort to come to an agreement on framework and modalities by February 1, 2009, and that if there is no agreement, then intergovernmental negotiations will start no later than February 28, 2009. Ambassador Khalilzad strongly suggested that the PGA tell the membership that formal negotiations will not start until after the February 1, 2009 deadline for the OEWG's discussions. ¶3. (C) The PGA replied that he had not been aware of the significance of the dates until the Egyptian Perm Rep met with him on October 17. (Comment: We find it hard to believe that the PGA did not grasp the importance of the dates contained in the decision. However, this expression of naivete may be his way to save face. End comment.) The PGA said that he would "soft-pedal" his previous decision to launch intergovernmental negotiations on November 21. Ambassador Khalilzad pressed the PGA to reassure the membership in the November 11 OEWG meeting of his commitment to the timeline expressed in decision 62/557 and that the November 21 informal GA plenary would be a preparatory meeting and not a formal launch of intergovernmental negotiations. (Note: According to a readout PolOff received from her Chinese counterpart, the Chinese DPR met October 21 with the PGA's Chef de Cabinet Ambassador Norman Miranda who confirmed that intergovernmental negotiations would not be launched until February 2009 and described the November 21 meeting as a "consultation" with member states. End note.) ¶4. (C) Afghan Perm Rep Zahir Tanin, who the PGA named to chair the intergovernmental negotiations, told Ambassador Khalilzad in a separate meeting October 20 that he has also been lobbied hard by member states upset with the accelerated timeline and had approached the PGA at his own initiative on October 17 to relay the membership's widespread displeasure. Tanin agrees with the need for a period of confidence-building over the next several months before intergovernmental negotiations are launched in February. Tanin told Ambassador Khalilzad that he plans to hold a short preparatory meeting November 21 to report to the membership USUN NEW Y 00000960 002.2 OF 002 that there is still a need for further preparations before launching intergovernmental negotiations. Interactive Panel on the Global Financial Crisis -------------- ¶5. (C) The PGA said he was continuing to plan for the October 30 Interactive Panel on the Global Financial Crisis which he viewed as a service to the membership. The format would be a panel discussion followed by questions from the membership with no speeches from member states. He noted that the Secretary-General had asked him not to schedule the panel for October 24 when the Secretary-General would be hosting World Bank and IMF visitors at the UN, including World Bank President Robert Zoellick. Ambassador Khalilzad urged the PGA to select a panel with a broad perspective. The PGA said that he had wanted a panel that included more than just economists so there could be a discussion of the human impact of the crisis. The PGA said the panel would be composed of the following five members: Joseph Stiglitz (US) - chair of panel; Sir John Eatwell (UK); Pedro Paez (Ecuador); Prabhat Patnaik (India); and Francois Houtart (Belgium). Saudi-proposed Inter-faith High-level Meeting -------------- ¶6. (C) The PGA relayed that the Pakistani President had said he would come to the Saudi-proposed inter-faith high-level meeting November 12-13, as well as at least 30 other heads of state. The PGA said he is open to any further input or documentation for the meeting. Ambassador Khalilzad promised to send him a copy of the Astana Declaration from the recent Common World Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan. Khalilzad