MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000044 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS UN LE SUBJECT: MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON TO DISCUSS TRANSITION REF: GARUCKIS/SIMONOFF 1/21/09 EMAIL ¶1. (U) Summary. The Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) met on January 22 to discuss the transition from the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) to the STL and to discuss other issues. End Summary. Preparations for the Transition ¶2. (SBU) Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs Peter Taksoe-Jensen briefed the Management Committee on the transition in advance of the March 1 STL commencement of operations. UN Legal Counsel Patricia O'Brien, accompanied by a UN Department of Safety and Security official, will meet with the Registrar and the Dutch Government on January 23 to discuss the transition and to work on ensuring security for judges, prosecutors, defense and relevant staff. Judges will be appointed by March 1, but most will not take up full-time duties until a trial commences. The Government of Lebanon will need to appoint a Deputy Prosecutor by March 1, and this individual will reside in The Hague and will need appropriate security. It was also reported that the STL's application to participate in the UN's Pension Fund was approved by the Fifth Committee and then the General Assembly. ¶3. (SBU) Taksoe-Jensen noted that the UN controller has raised concerns regarding proper "checks and balances" over STL financial controls before he will agree to transfer the remaining funds in the STL Trust Fund to the STL. The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) will work with the UN controller to sort through the issues so that the remainder of the trust funds can be released to the STL. (USD 10 million was released before December 31, 2008.) ¶4. (SBU) Taksoe-Jensen and the Registrar reported that there will be a "low-key" opening ceremony of the STL on March 1 or ¶2. The expectation is that Patricia O'Brien will represent the Secretary-General and will be joined by the STL Registrar, the head of the Dutch Foreign Ministry's International Organization Affairs Office and Management Committee mission representatives based in The Hague, including the Lebanese Ambassador. The Registrar will prepare a brief outline of the proposed event for the Management Committee's review, including press arrangements. (Note: The ceremony was OLA's idea, in order to have official and public recognition of a very important milestone. According to OLA, IIIC Commissioner and soon-to-be Prosecutor Bellemare expressed reservations that the ceremony might unduly raise expectations. Bellemare has said that he will not attend the ceremony since he will not want to field press inquiries about the investigation. End note.) Other Administrative Issues ¶5. (U) The Management Committee accepted the Registrar's recommendation that the STL not participate in the Mobility Accord, which is designed to facilitate mobility between organizations participating in the UN common system, but which could have substantial cost implications. ¶6. (U) The Registrar sought the discretion to spend approximately USD 2 million from an expected supplementary contribution from Canada. The Management Committee noted that any plans to spend above the existing budget would need to be reviewed by the Management Committee, probably through a supplemental budget request. ¶7. (U) The Office of Legal Affairs reported that the Secretary General's last report on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1757 will be released shortly before March 1. Thereafter, OLA recommends that the STL President and Prosecutor brief the Security Council every six months, as the STL is not a UN Secretariat body. ¶8. (U) The Management Committee agreed that Canada will serve as Vice Chair of the Management Committee. Wolff