SRSG EIDE CALLS FOR UNAMA RESTRUCTURING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003820 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: SRSG EIDE CALLS FOR UNAMA RESTRUCTURING Classified By: CDDEA Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne; reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Speaking privately to a gathering of ambassadors in Kabul on November 30, SRSG Kai Eide confided that he had sent a cable to UN HQ suggesting an overhaul of UNAMA's structure. Eide described the "terrible" recruitment process that has hindered UNAMA's performance in Afghanistan, and suggested that he had argued for a new structure for UNAMA that better integrated large donors and troop contributors. Eide also lamented ongoing problems caused by Peter Galbraith's continued criticisms of him. End Summary. ¶2. (C) SRSG Eide told the ambassadors that after researching UN missions in other countries, he has advocated that UNAMA adapt certain structures used elsewhere, such as the steering committee model used in Bosnia and the combined civ-mil approach used in Haiti and in UNIFIL, where representatives of military forces were integrated into the UN mission. The SRSG said he looks forward to discussing the issues raised in his cable individually with the two EU missions, ISAF, and the major donor countries. The UK Deputy Ambassador seconded the need to re-define the UN mandate here, adding that military forces have increasingly taken on roles traditionally left to civilian entities. Their new roles, he observed, are not necessarily bad, but it is important that the UN work these issues through with the UN, adding that ISAF tends to "run with the ball," which the ISAF representative acknowledged to be correct. ¶3. (C) Eide also noted that this is a good opportunity for UNAMA to reorganize its operations in order to link up with how the Afghan government is reorganizing. He suggested that some of his proposals for reorganization could be raised at the conference in London, or at the later Kabul conference if the proposals are not ready in time. Ambassador Wayne said that a review of UN operations is welcome, and that it is important to sort out these issues now, as President Obama's speech will likely hold implications for operations in Kabul. ¶4. (C) A key component to strengthening the UN operation in Afghanistan is improved recruitment, Eide said. The UN is falling short both in terms of numbers of staff and in the caliber of staff they are recruiting. The recruitment is "terribly inadequate," Eide said, and the UN simply cannot function at the level it needs to without the requisite staff. ¶5. (C) On a personal note, Eide expressed his frustration at what he considers former Deputy SRSG Peter Galbraith's continuing campaign to undermine his (Eide's) credibility, citing a recent International Crisis Group report calling for Eide's ouster as evidence of the campaign to bring him down. It has become very difficult for him to respond to these accusations in his current role, he stated. Eikenberry