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