ACTION REQUEST: PAKISTAN HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR

UNCLAS STATE 061818 SENSITIVE C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED) 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, as Vice President Biden discussed with the Secretary General in their meeting of June 4. (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