Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK202
2009-03-03 01:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR RICE AND UN DPKO USG LE ROY DISCUSS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0202/01 0620122 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 030122Z MAR 09 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5979 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0261 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 0369 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 1405 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 1733 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2476 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000202
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC CG IN SU XA AF
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE AND UN DPKO USG LE ROY DISCUSS
INDIA'S WITHDRAWAL FROM MONUC, SUDAN, AFGHANISTAN, REFORM
Classified By: U.S. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE, FOR
REASONS 1.4 B/D
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000202
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC CG IN SU XA AF
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE AND UN DPKO USG LE ROY DISCUSS
INDIA'S WITHDRAWAL FROM MONUC, SUDAN, AFGHANISTAN, REFORM
Classified By: U.S. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE, FOR
REASONS 1.4 B/D
1. (C) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.
2. (C) SUMMARY: UN Peacekeeping USG Le Roy told Ambassador
Rice on February 26 that India planned to withdraw its troops
from MONUC. He asked for U.S. assistance in encouraging DRC
President Kabila to support Indian troops, to help avert
India's departure. Le Roy said Rwandan troops could return
to DRC for additional operations against the FDLR if needed.
On Sudan, Le Roy did not expect violence against UN interests
following the expected ICC announcement. He agreed to
Ambassador Rice's request for a briefing on the recent
fighting in southern Sudan. Regarding Afghanistan, Le Roy
called for greater coordination among donors and with the UN,
and he and Rice brainstormed on ways to keep President Karzai
from calling early, illegitimate, elections. Le Roy also
shared general thoughts on ways to improve UN peacekeeping.
END SUMMARY.
3. (U) Ambassador Rice held an introductory meeting with UN
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) U/SYG Alain
LeRoy on February 26. Le Roy was joined by DPKO Military
Advisor Lt. General Chika Dbia Isaac Obiakor, DPKO
Asia/Middle East Division Director Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber,
and Special Assistant David Haeri. U.S. participants
included Ambassador DiCarlo, senior advisor, and poloff.
--------------
DRC/MONUC
--------------
INDIA TELLS UN IT WILL WITHDRAW ALL ITS TROOPS
4. (C) U/SYG Le Roy told Ambassador Rice that India had
informed DPKO through a note verbale on February 20 that it
intended to withdraw all its troops and assets from MONUC.
Le Roy said India had asked DRC President Kabila to publicly
support India's troops, which Kabila had refused to do.
India therefore decided to withdraw. India assured DPKO its
withdrawal would be gradual, but Le Roy noted MONUC would
lose eventually most of its air assets and one fourth of its
troops if India departs. Le Roy said UNSYG Ban is pressuring
Kabila during his February 28 visit to the DRC to praise the
Indian troops. Ban will also meet with Indian troops in the
DRC and will send Indian Prime Minister Singh a letter urging
India to remain in MONUC. Le Roy confirmed India was being
treated badly by Kabila. He noted that the Indian PermRep
told him India did not need the money from peacekeeping
operations, and Le Roy thought this could indicate India will
be less interested contributing to future UN peacekeeping
operations.
5. (C) Le Roy stressed DPKO was very concerned about the
potential loss of MONUC resources. He requested the U.S.
pressure President Kabila to express confidence in Indian
troops to keep India from withdrawing from MONUC. Le Roy
gave assurances he would notify the U.S. the results of Ban's
efforts.
6. (C) ACTION REQUEST: USUN suggests Department consider
approaching DRC leaders to urge their public support for
Indian troops serving with MONUC.
RWANDAN TROOPS IN DRC LEAVING NOW MAY LEAVE DOOR OPEN FOR
THEIR RETURN
7. (C) Le Roy said the recent joint DRC/Rwandan operation
against the FDLR was only partially successful, but he
thought it a welcome surprise to see the DRC/Rwanda bilateral
relationship improve so dramatically in such a short period
of time. He commented that the Rwandan troops behaved very
well, utilized good planning, and were disciplined. In
response to Ambassador Rice's question on the potential for
Rwandan troops to return to the DRC, Le Roy said Kabila stood
to gain strong leverage with the DRC parliament (which voiced
opposition to the joint operation due, inter alia, to
previous lengthy Rwandan incursions in eastern DRC),if
Rwandan troops did actually leave now.
8. (C) On the additional 3,000 troops approved for MONUC in
November under SCR 1843, Le Roy said the troops would include
one Bangladeshi battalion and one Egyptian battalion and the
two special forces companies would come from Egypt and/or
Jordan.
--------------
SUDAN
--------------
9. (C) Le Roy reported he did not anticipate attacks against
the UN in response to the expected ICC arrest warrant for
President Bashir. He thought Sudan would not grant visas for
P-3 members, and Ambassador Rice confirmed U.S. military
advisors had already been denied visas. Le Roy feared human
rights workers would be forced out of Sudan. Ambassador
Rice confirmed the U.S. does not support an Article 16
deferral for Bashir, and counted only six or seven Council
members (including Russia, China, Libya, Viet Nam, Burkina
Faso, and Uganda) that we believed would support a deferral.
10. (C) Le Roy was concerned Chadian and rebel forces were
gathering on the Chad-Sudan border, saying he thought Chad
could use the ICC announcement in an attempt to gain terrain
and power, while Sudan could be sending rebels to Chad to
detract attention from any arrest warrant.
11. (SBU) Le Roy affirmed DPKO would conduct a Council
briefing on the recent fighting in Malakal in southern Sudan
in response to Ambassador Rice's request.
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
12. (C) Ambassador Rice, in response to Le Roy's question on
when to expect the results of the U.S. policy review on
Afghanistan, said it would be completed by the end of March,
before the NATO summit. Le Roy said there was no need to
change UNAMA's mandate. He noted there was much confusion
regarding donor efforts, both among donors and between the
donors and the UN. The UN had difficulty understanding where
donor funds were going, and there was a lack of communication
amongst all parties. Le Roy said the imbalance in PRT
support needed to be addressed, as most development money was
sent to the southern PRTs.
--------------
PEACEKEEPING REFORM
--------------
13. (C) Ambassador Rice solicited Le Roy's views on
Peacekeeping Reform. Le Roy said there were three issues to
address: (1) the gap between demand and supply for
peacekeeping; (2) the effectiveness of current peacekeepers;
and (3) alternatives to UN peacekeeping (such as AU and EU
forces) since the UN was currently at its "outer limits" of
ability.
Rice
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNSC CG IN SU XA AF
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE AND UN DPKO USG LE ROY DISCUSS
INDIA'S WITHDRAWAL FROM MONUC, SUDAN, AFGHANISTAN, REFORM
Classified By: U.S. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE, FOR
REASONS 1.4 B/D
1. (C) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.
2. (C) SUMMARY: UN Peacekeeping USG Le Roy told Ambassador
Rice on February 26 that India planned to withdraw its troops
from MONUC. He asked for U.S. assistance in encouraging DRC
President Kabila to support Indian troops, to help avert
India's departure. Le Roy said Rwandan troops could return
to DRC for additional operations against the FDLR if needed.
On Sudan, Le Roy did not expect violence against UN interests
following the expected ICC announcement. He agreed to
Ambassador Rice's request for a briefing on the recent
fighting in southern Sudan. Regarding Afghanistan, Le Roy
called for greater coordination among donors and with the UN,
and he and Rice brainstormed on ways to keep President Karzai
from calling early, illegitimate, elections. Le Roy also
shared general thoughts on ways to improve UN peacekeeping.
END SUMMARY.
3. (U) Ambassador Rice held an introductory meeting with UN
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) U/SYG Alain
LeRoy on February 26. Le Roy was joined by DPKO Military
Advisor Lt. General Chika Dbia Isaac Obiakor, DPKO
Asia/Middle East Division Director Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber,
and Special Assistant David Haeri. U.S. participants
included Ambassador DiCarlo, senior advisor, and poloff.
--------------
DRC/MONUC
--------------
INDIA TELLS UN IT WILL WITHDRAW ALL ITS TROOPS
4. (C) U/SYG Le Roy told Ambassador Rice that India had
informed DPKO through a note verbale on February 20 that it
intended to withdraw all its troops and assets from MONUC.
Le Roy said India had asked DRC President Kabila to publicly
support India's troops, which Kabila had refused to do.
India therefore decided to withdraw. India assured DPKO its
withdrawal would be gradual, but Le Roy noted MONUC would
lose eventually most of its air assets and one fourth of its
troops if India departs. Le Roy said UNSYG Ban is pressuring
Kabila during his February 28 visit to the DRC to praise the
Indian troops. Ban will also meet with Indian troops in the
DRC and will send Indian Prime Minister Singh a letter urging
India to remain in MONUC. Le Roy confirmed India was being
treated badly by Kabila. He noted that the Indian PermRep
told him India did not need the money from peacekeeping
operations, and Le Roy thought this could indicate India will
be less interested contributing to future UN peacekeeping
operations.
5. (C) Le Roy stressed DPKO was very concerned about the
potential loss of MONUC resources. He requested the U.S.
pressure President Kabila to express confidence in Indian
troops to keep India from withdrawing from MONUC. Le Roy
gave assurances he would notify the U.S. the results of Ban's
efforts.
6. (C) ACTION REQUEST: USUN suggests Department consider
approaching DRC leaders to urge their public support for
Indian troops serving with MONUC.
RWANDAN TROOPS IN DRC LEAVING NOW MAY LEAVE DOOR OPEN FOR
THEIR RETURN
7. (C) Le Roy said the recent joint DRC/Rwandan operation
against the FDLR was only partially successful, but he
thought it a welcome surprise to see the DRC/Rwanda bilateral
relationship improve so dramatically in such a short period
of time. He commented that the Rwandan troops behaved very
well, utilized good planning, and were disciplined. In
response to Ambassador Rice's question on the potential for
Rwandan troops to return to the DRC, Le Roy said Kabila stood
to gain strong leverage with the DRC parliament (which voiced
opposition to the joint operation due, inter alia, to
previous lengthy Rwandan incursions in eastern DRC),if
Rwandan troops did actually leave now.
8. (C) On the additional 3,000 troops approved for MONUC in
November under SCR 1843, Le Roy said the troops would include
one Bangladeshi battalion and one Egyptian battalion and the
two special forces companies would come from Egypt and/or
Jordan.
--------------
SUDAN
--------------
9. (C) Le Roy reported he did not anticipate attacks against
the UN in response to the expected ICC arrest warrant for
President Bashir. He thought Sudan would not grant visas for
P-3 members, and Ambassador Rice confirmed U.S. military
advisors had already been denied visas. Le Roy feared human
rights workers would be forced out of Sudan. Ambassador
Rice confirmed the U.S. does not support an Article 16
deferral for Bashir, and counted only six or seven Council
members (including Russia, China, Libya, Viet Nam, Burkina
Faso, and Uganda) that we believed would support a deferral.
10. (C) Le Roy was concerned Chadian and rebel forces were
gathering on the Chad-Sudan border, saying he thought Chad
could use the ICC announcement in an attempt to gain terrain
and power, while Sudan could be sending rebels to Chad to
detract attention from any arrest warrant.
11. (SBU) Le Roy affirmed DPKO would conduct a Council
briefing on the recent fighting in Malakal in southern Sudan
in response to Ambassador Rice's request.
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
12. (C) Ambassador Rice, in response to Le Roy's question on
when to expect the results of the U.S. policy review on
Afghanistan, said it would be completed by the end of March,
before the NATO summit. Le Roy said there was no need to
change UNAMA's mandate. He noted there was much confusion
regarding donor efforts, both among donors and between the
donors and the UN. The UN had difficulty understanding where
donor funds were going, and there was a lack of communication
amongst all parties. Le Roy said the imbalance in PRT
support needed to be addressed, as most development money was
sent to the southern PRTs.
--------------
PEACEKEEPING REFORM
--------------
13. (C) Ambassador Rice solicited Le Roy's views on
Peacekeeping Reform. Le Roy said there were three issues to
address: (1) the gap between demand and supply for
peacekeeping; (2) the effectiveness of current peacekeepers;
and (3) alternatives to UN peacekeeping (such as AU and EU
forces) since the UN was currently at its "outer limits" of
ability.
Rice