ACTION REQUEST: PAKISTAN HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR

UNCLAS STATE 061815

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: PAKISTAN HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR
RECOMMENDATIONS

REF: ISLAMABAD 1257


1. (SBU) This is an action request. Mission should
privately deliver the following points to the UN Secretary
General, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs
John Holmes, or other senior UN officials, as appropriate:

-- We would like to express our deep condolences for the
UN,s loss of two international staff and three local staff
in the June 9 attack on the Pearl Continental hotel. The
United Nations and its personnel have shown incredible
bravery and selflessness in assisting Pakistan,s internal
refugees.

-- We understand that the UN,s security team is in frequent
contact with our Embassy,s security team. If there is
something else that we can do to help on these issues, please
let us know.

-- The Government of Pakistan (GOP) has informed U.S. Special
Representative Richard Holbrooke of its agreement on the need
for the UN to appoint a senior, high-level Humanitarian
Assistance Coordinator to oversee international assistance to
Pakistan's IDPs. However, Foreign Secretary Bashir has
underscored that the GOP will not accept a Special
Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) nor an
individual mandated to examine human rights issues or the
applicability of international humanitarian law.

-- Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon,s recent decision to
elevate Pakistan UNICEF Country Representative Martin
Mogwanja as the UN Humanitarian Coordinator was helpful, but
more is needed. The Secretary General acknowledged this when
he committed to Vice President Biden on June 4 that the UN
would continue to seek to appoint a high-profile humanitarian
assistance/donor coordinator. (Note (if pressed): Though
Mogwanja is reportedly very competent, because he will still
have his UNICEF duties to perform, this appointment does not
represent a net increase in personnel for a greatly expanded
workload. In addition, he could meet institutional
resistance in exercising authority over the rest of the UN
agencies. End Note)

-- The scope and magnitude of the humanitarian crisis
requires a senior, high-level Humanitarian Coordinator to
coordinate the humanitarian activities of all relevant
actors (including the UN country team, donor countries, NGOs,
and other international organizations),liaise with senior
GOP officials, and oversee the UN's comprehensive
humanitarian response.


2. (SBU) Mission should provide the following list of names
for the Secretary General's consideration as the UN continues
its efforts to identify a high-profile Humanitarian
Assistance/Donor Coordinator: Kamel Morjane (Tunisia),
Margareta Wahlstrom (Sweden),Jan Eliasson (Sweden),and Jan
Egeland (Norway). This should not be considered an exclusive
list, but rather examples of good potential candidates.
Background information will be sent separately via email.
CLINTON