UNSC: COUNCIL SUPPORTS SYG TRAVEL TO REGION; URGES

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000019 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWBG KPAL UNSC IS EG TU SUBJECT: UNSC: COUNCIL SUPPORTS SYG TRAVEL TO REGION; URGES IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1860 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In closed-door consultations with the Security Council on January 13, the Secretary-General briefed the Council on the goals of his upcoming trip to the region. He stressed it was time for the violence to stop and called for a durable cease-fire and the implementation of UNSCR ¶1860. Council members were unanimously supportive of the Secretary-General's travel and his efforts to promptly and effectively implement UNSCR 1860. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In closed-door consultations with the Security Council on January 13 just prior to his departure that afternoon for the region, the Secretary-General outlined the goals of his travel. He stressed that it was time for the violence to stop. He explained that he had held a press conference the previous day to send that message to leaders in the region before his meetings with them. He said that at each stop he would repeat the call for a durable cease-fire and the need for the implementation of UNSCR 1860 and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. He said he would encourage the diplomatic efforts amongst the concerned parties and stress the need for an end to the rocket attacks and to Israeli military action, followed by an Israeli withdrawal. The Secretary-General underlined the humanitarian crisis and the need to protect civilians. He called for international humanitarian law to be scrupulously observed and said there would be a UN investigation of the attacks on a UN convoy and a UN school. He also said a UN humanitarian assessment mission would be deployed as soon as it was safe to do so and that the UN would lead the international reconstruction effort. He promised to brief the Council after his return from the region on January 20. ¶3. (SBU) Council members in their statements were unanimously supportive of the Secretary-General's travel and his efforts to effectively and promptly implement UNSCR 1860. Most delegations called on both parties to cease fighting. Many delegations specifically voiced support for the implementation of a monitoring mechanism, including Turkey which offered to participate in such a monitoring mission. Ambassador Khalilzad, in his statement, applauded the continuing efforts of the Egyptian and French governments to effect an immediate, durable, and sustainable cease-fire. He thanked UNRWA, ICRC, and other humanitarian agencies for their actions in Gaza and urged real-time, ground-level coordination between them and Israeli combatant commanders to ensure that relief work can be carried out safely. He stressed that, in the aftermath of the crisis, the international community must be prepared to adopt an intensive reconstruction initiative, perhaps through a donors conference, to complement the efforts of the PA in Gaza. ¶4. (SBU) The Libyan DPR's remarks were extremely supportive of the Secretary-General, welcoming his visit to convince both parties to end the fighting. The UK Perm Rep, in response to the Secretary-General's statement that the lack of implementation of UNSCR 1860 negatively impacted upon the credibility of the Security Council, said it is "not the credibility of the Security Council that is at stake but the international standing of the parties." He also highlighted the need for an end to arms smuggling and previewed a role for the UN. He called on the Secretary-General to highlight, during his trip, the crucial work of UN employees in Gaza and asked the Secretary-General to come back with ideas on how to reconstruct Gaza. The French Perm Rep referred to a January 15 Ministerial-level follow-up meeting to the December 2007 Paris conference that will involve France, Norway, the European Commission, and Quartet Representative Tony Blair and which will now likely focus more on post-Gaza conflict reconstruction. ¶5. (SBU) The Austrian Perm Rep welcomed the Secretary-General's statements on international humanitarian law but pressed the Secretary-General to be more explicit in his meetings on the need for its respect and said Austria was ready to examine broadening the EU mission at the crossings. He also hailed the Secretary-General's planned stop in Damascus, saying the Syrians could play a more active role. The Mexican Perm Rep also called for respect for international humanitarian law and lamented the absence of any mention of it in UNSCR 1860. The Turkish Perm Rep welcomed the Secretary-General's visit, including his stop in Turkey, and said the Prime Minister's Special Representative is in the region trying to assist Egypt in bringing the parties to talks. The Japanese DPR also expressed full support for the Secretary-General's trip and noted the present of Special Envoy Arima in the region. The Chinese Perm Rep also noted the visit to the region of the Chinese Special Envoy who would like to "join international efforts towards a lasting solution." Khalilzad