SYG BAN BRIEFS ON AU SUMMIT, IRAQ, GAZA,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000114

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TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM UNSC SO SU ZI MA AF IS IZ PK
SUBJECT: SYG BAN BRIEFS ON AU SUMMIT, IRAQ, GAZA,
AFGHANISTAN


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Secretary-General Ban briefed the Security
Council on his recent travels in February 9 consultations.
Ban recounted his personal intervention on the Muhajeria
crisis in Darfur, described a long list of challenges in
Afghanistan and relayed a new sense of optimism in Iraq in
the wake of regional elections. He briefed the Council on
plans for inquiries into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
and attacks on UN facilities in Gaza, and described Hamas's
interference with delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. End
summary.


2. (SBU) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon addressed a closed
session of the Security Council on the afternoon of February
9 to brief on the outcome of his recent trip to Madrid,
Davos, Addis Ababa, South Asia and Iraq. Ban began by
telling the Council of his commitment to improving food
security, as discussed in a high-level meeting in Madrid, and
by stressing that intergovernmental negotiations on climate
change required "political direction and impetus" at a very
senior level.

AU Summit
--------------


3. (SBU) Somalia - Ban welcomed the election of Sheikh Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed as president of Somalia and told Council members
that money for Somali security forces was urgently needed, as
was the return of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
to Mogadishu. Ban stated the UN's willingness to reinforce
the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and announced
that African states are ready to deploy reinforcements to the
force "in the very near future." He told the Council that
General Assembly approval would be needed before the UN could
act to reinforce AMISOM.


4. (SBU) Sudan - Ban reported extensive discussions on Sudan,
telling the Council that his public and private intervention
with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudanese
government preceded the JEM's withdrawal from Muhajeria. Ban
recounted telling Sudanese President Bashir that UN personnel
should be protected in the event of an International Criminal
Court (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant for Bashir: Bashir
agreed. Ban also briefed on Joint Chief Mediator Bassole's
efforts to convene talks between Sudan and the JEM in Qatar,
and said that he hoped such talks could lead to a framework
agreement. Many Council members praised UNAMID's decision to
protect vulnerable civilian populations by remaining in
Muhajeria despite strong pressure from the Sudanese
government to withdraw. The UK stressed that the Council
should remain committed to the peace process even if an ICC
warrant is issued, while Burkina Faso asked the SYG to report
on possible complications that could arise from an ICC
decision. China said that an arrest warrant would not help
the situation and hoped that AU representatives would have an
opportunity to brief the Council on the AU's position in the
near future. France asked if the AU had provided assurances
with regard to respect for UNAMID and international staff in
Sudan in the case that an arrest warrant is issued.


5. (SBU) DRC - The SYG described a "dramatic turn for the
better" in Eastern DRC as a result of improved cooperation
between DRC and its neighbors and said that he was
considering a late February visit to DRC, including a stop in
Goma. He said that he would ask Special Envoy Obasanjo to
continue to work with regional leaders to maintain momentum
in the meantime.


6. (SBU) Zimbabwe - Ban welcomed the MDC's decision to join a
unity government, but expressed skepticism that the move
would lead to "real power sharing." President Mugabe
declined a Ban request to release opposition prisoners, he
said, but agreed that the unity government should allow full
access to international aid organizations. Ban said that he
was dispatching UN A/SYG Haile Menkerios to the new
government's inauguration on February 13, and that he would
review UN agencies' posture on the ground after the new
government was sworn in. Several Council members welcomed
the unity government announcement, while the UK said that its
performance would have to be closely monitored.


7. (SBU) Other issues - Ban said that A/SYG Menkerios was
currently in Madagascar at his request, meeting with the
president and mayor and attempting to defuse tensions through
the UN's good offices. The SYG reported that AU leaders were

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concerned about the situation in Madagascar, and that they
spoke out in favor of a return to constitutional order in
Mauritania and Guinea. Ban said that the UN would continue
to work for a return to constitutional legality in Mauritania
and Guinea through the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA).

Afghanistan/Pakistan
--------------


8. (SBU) Ban reported that the Afghan government seemed to be
on the defensive during his visit, particularly with regard
to the security situation and President Karzai's decision to
delay the date of presidential elections from May to August

2009. In their conversations, Karzai told Ban that he was
committed to democracy and wants to ensure a legitimate
transition: Ban answered that any transitional arrangement
after the constitutional expiration of Karzai's term in May
must be based on a broad political consensus. The
Secretary-General described the Afghan government's hope to
conclude an agreement with NATO and other international
forces to cut down on the number of civilian casualties due
to military operations. While sympathetic, Ban added that
any reform to counter-terrorism strategy needed to be
accompanied by reform within the Afghan government to
increase capacity and tackle drug-related corruption. Ban
emphasized UNAMA's commitment to improving coordination of
international efforts in Afghanistan. Despite daunting
security challenges, UNAMA will expand its footprint from 18
to 23 offices in 2009, he said. China strongly supported the
SYG's thoughts on Afghanistan, and said that the
international community should focus on stabilization,
civilian protection and reconstruction. Russia welcomed the
Afghan government's initiative on civilian casualties.


9. (SBU) Ban emphasized that terrorism in South Asia could
not be eliminated without improved regional cooperation,
particularly between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He told
Council members that Pakistani President Zardari and PM
Gilani had described Pakistan as a major victim of terror.
They stressed to him Pakistan's commitment to cooperate with
Afghanistan and to conclude a quick investigation into
Pakistani links to the Mumbai terror attacks of November

2008. Ban said that Pakistani leaders also welcomed his
announcement of a UN inquiry into the assassination of
Benazir Bhutto, and promised full cooperation. He said that
the inquiry expected to release its findings within six
months.

India/Sri Lanka
--------------


10. (SBU) The SYG said that while in India to press a global
warming agenda, he commended the Indian government for its
restraint in the wake of recent terrorist attacks. Ban
reported that Indian leaders were open to rapprochement with
Pakistan but insisted on full Pakistani cooperation with
India's investigation of the Mumbai attacks. Ban said that,
while in India, he called Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa to
register his concern over reports of high civilian casualties
in the government's offensive against the LTTE rebels. The
SYG was disappointed with Rajapaksa's denial that many
civilians had suffered casualties, but said that efforts were
ongoing to negotiate safe passage for civilians from
rebel-held to government-held areas.

Iraq
--------------


11. (SBU) Ban delivered a nearly glowing report of his visit
to Iraq, where he encountered a "new optimism and confidence"
among Iraqi leaders. He praised UNAMI's work in ensuring
that Iraqi authorities were fully prepared, saying that UNAMI
is now "fully justified." If prevailing security trends
continue, he said, the UN will continue to relocate its
personnel from Amman to Baghdad. At the request of the Iraqi
government, he relayed to Council members the Iraqis' strong
desire that sanctions against Iraq be reviewed.

Gaza
--------------


12. (SBU) Ban laid out a four-pronged Gaza agenda:
consolidating the ceasefire, expediting relief, promoting
Palestinian unity and reinvigorating the peace process. He

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threw his support behind the Cairo relief conference planned
for March 2, but declared his "dismay" at Hamas's seizure of
UN goods, which he described as "totally unacceptable." He
said that Hamas must return the goods and provide assurances
that such seizures will not be repeated, but that Israel must
also act to facilitate free humanitarian access and open
checkpoints. Ban said that the UN would review its internal
measures to prevent diversion and ensure that donated aid
reached its intended recipients. He also announced his
intention to establish a Board of Inquiry into damage to UN
facilities. The Board will be headed by Ian Martin (outgoing
SRSG and head of the UN Mission in Nepal),will have military
experts on staff and is expected to issue its report within a
month. Ban said that terms of reference for the Board were
not yet complete, but that they would be shared with Security
Council members when ready. Libya prepared a draft
Presidential Statement welcoming the SYG's initiative to
establish the Board and seeking a briefing by the Board on
its findings. Russia also welcomed the Board. France
welcomed the SYG's "resolute stance on stolen aid."

U.S. statement
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13. (SBU) Ambassador Rice welcomed the Secretary-General's
comprehensive report and active diplomacy -- in particular
his visit and support to Iraq after the provincial elections
and his leadership on Afghanistan. She welcomed the SYG's
strong and balanced statement on Darfur and praised UNAMID's
determination in remaining in Mujaheria. On Gaza, she
expressed the U.S.'s grave concern over Hamas's confiscation
of humanitarian assistance.



Rice