AFGHANISTAN - UNAMA GUIDANCE

UNCLAS STATE 018883 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AF MARR SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN - UNAMA GUIDANCE REF: USUN 153 ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. In response to reftel, and per interagency decision, the Department authorizes USUN to communicate to officials at the UN and relevant Permanent Missions in New York that the U.S. Government does not support reconfiguration of the current UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mandate. Post should also note that the current U.S. interagency Afghanistan-Pakistan policy review is ongoing and could impact our position. ¶2. (SBU) In addition, USUN should instead seek a 12-month renewal of the UNAMA mandate as authorized in UN Security Council resolution 1806 (2008),if possible with two minimal modifications. First, we would like the next resolution underscore the importance of UNAMA's role in promoting good governance and preparing for free and fair elections. Second, the resolution should contain a request that future reporting by the Secretary General focus on benchmarks of progress in key areas such as elections, national and local governance including government accountability, human rights, economic restructuring and reform, humanitarian situation and assistance, regional cooperation, and coordination of international assistance. CLINTON