DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW, UN SRSG DISCUSS DONOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 000932 DEPT PASS FOR GREENE DEPT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A DEPT PASS AID/ASIA BUREAU USDA FOR FAS OA/GSM/MILLER DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A, USFOR-A NSC FOR JWOOD DASD FOR DAVID SEDNEY COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: EINV EFIN ENRG ETRD ECON EAID AF FAS PGOV, PREL, KDRL SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW, UN SRSG DISCUSS DONOR COORDINATION, ELECTIONS, AND RECONCILIATION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On April 4, 2009, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Jacob Lew and delegation met with Ambassador Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan (SRSG),United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). The discussion focused on coordination (both within the international donor community and within the government),the upcoming elections, and reconciliation. END SUMMARY. -------------- DONOR COORDINATION & AID EFFECTIVENESS -------------- ¶2. (U) The Deputy Secretary welcomed UNAMAQs growing role in donor coordination. The SRSG acknowledged that a comprehensive inventory of international assistance, and how the various efforts fit together, is noticeably absent. The SRSG indicated that the World Bank Management Information System database assessmentQs (to track the Afghanistan National Development StrategyQs [ANDS] progress) first draft was complex and needed to be re-written in a more- user-friendly way. The SRSG hopes to share the draft with the GIRoA and the broader donor community soon. ¶3. (U) The SRSG also noted that data on international assistance (primarily external to the national budget) is incomplete. While USAID provides data to the Ministry of Finance and UNAMA, the CommanderQs Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds are not currently captured. Michael Yates, USAID/Afghanistan Director, indicated that USAID is working with the U.S. military to develop a database to track all USG- funded projects, and all parties agreed to encourage other donors to report on who is doing what and where. The SRSG remarked that this would be a huge step forward to improve coordination. -------------- GIRoA COORDINATION -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The SRSG highlighted that ANDS implementation progress needs greater GIRoA engagement. The GIRoA must get on with the job of prioritizing and implementing its many ANDS policy commitments. ¶5. (U) The next Joint Coordination Management Board (JCMB) is scheduled for April 19 and will focus on agriculture, private sector development, ANDS financing and implementation issues, and police staffing and reform. -------------- ELECTIONS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The SRSG suggested that more money for the elections may be needed. The SRSG noted that Japan made a contribution of $11.5 million and that the European Commission will allocate $45.9 million (an increase from $19.7 million the prior year). The SRSG noted that UNAMA has been shifting support to staff up its election unit. James Bever, USAID Afghanistan- Pakistan Task Force Director, expressed concerns over potential hidden election costs. For example, during the 2004 Presidential elections, Afghanistan National Police per diem costs amounted to an additional $35-40 million. ¶7. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary expressed concern about KABUL 00000932 002 OF 003 U.S. military presence and visibility in support of the elections; election security support should be Afghan military-led. An EU exploratory mission will travel to Afghanistan mid-April to review election security, and a meeting with UNAMAQs DSRSG Chris Alexander is on their agenda. The Deputy Secretary highlighted that the EU must petition NATO for an expanded ISAF mandate that includes security support for international observers. The Deputy Secretary also requested that the SRSG provide a map of elections security needs, suggesting that other countries could increase their support for election security, including in insecure areas. ¶8. (U) The SRSG noted that the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) will hear and review complaints during the period of candidacy and elections (including run-offs if necessary) and will be present in every province. An ECC in every district was deemed unfeasible. These offices are also likely to require additional resources for security. ¶9. (U) The SRSG recommended more radio spots vs. TV spots to increase media coverage, as the majority of the population currently lacks access to TV. During his recent visit to Kabul, Ambassador Carney raised this issue. The SRSG is planning to meet with key media owners regarding elections. -------------- RECONCILIATION -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The SRSG briefly raised the issue of reconciliation with moderate Taliban. As reconciliation is contained within their mandate, the SRSG requested that the reconciliation process be conducted in an open fashion, with a role for everyone to play. The Deputy Secretary noted that it would be dangerous to accept the preconditions of the hardcore Taliban, and that the reconciliation process will be extremely challenging. The Deputy Secretary did not clear this cable. ¶11. Date/Time: April 4, 2009; 9:00 a.m.; Kabul, Afghanistan ¶12. Participants: U.S. The Deputy Secretary Amb. Francis Ricciardone, Charg d'affaires James Bever, USAID AF-PAK Task Force Director Michael J. Yates, USAID/Afghanistan Director David Hatch, USAID (Note taker) UNAMA-Afghanistan Ambassador Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan (SRSG) RICCIARDONE Clearance Page: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Jacob LewQs April 4, 2009 Meeting with Ambassador Kai Eide, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan (SRSG),United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) USAID DG: JKelley: __in draft_______ Date:___4/7/09_ PPDO: RBrinkley: __in draft_______ Date: ___4/7/09_ D/DIR: PArgo: __in draft_______ Date: ___4/7/09_ KABUL 00000932 003 OF 003 DIR: MYates: __w/edits_______ Date: ___4/7/09_ (seek POL guidance) Embassy POL: SNichols: __w/edits_______ Date: ___4/9/09_ Drafted by: DHatch, PPDO, ext. 4862 P:\PPDO PUBLIC\Cables\D-Lew visit\D-LEW - UNAMA meeting 04-04-09 LC.doc