Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK458
2009-05-05 19:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH UK MINISTER FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000458
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: UNGA PGOV KGHG EFIN ECON EAID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH UK MINISTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT DOUGLAS ALEXANDER
Classified By: ECOSOC Minister-Counselor Robert Hagen for reasons 1.5(b
) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000458
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: UNGA PGOV KGHG EFIN ECON EAID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH UK MINISTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT DOUGLAS ALEXANDER
Classified By: ECOSOC Minister-Counselor Robert Hagen for reasons 1.5(b
) and (d)
1. SUMMARY: In an April 27 meeting with Ambassador Rice,
the UK Minister for Development Douglas Alexander and UK PR
John Sawers expressed concern over the potential for the UN
June 1-2 financial crisis conference to disrupt the G-20
international financial architecture reform discussions.
Alexander urged the USG to take on a leadership role
regarding two key issues that will be taken up at the
Copenhagen Climate Change ministerial: developing interim
carbon dioxide emission targets for emerging countries, and
international assistance for adaptation to climate change by
developing countries. In speaking about achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals, Alexander agreed with
Ambassador Rice that support for fragile states, particularly
in strengthening governance, should be a core priority, and
urged the USG to work with the UK on strengthening the UN
peacebuilding architecture. END SUMMARY
2. (C) On April 27, Ambassador Rice met with the UK Secretary
of State for the Ministry of International Development
Douglas Alexander. Alexander was accompanied by UK Permanent
Representative John Sawers. Alexander and Sawers began the
meeting by noting their concern that Cuba, Iran, Venezuela
and other "radical" G-77 countries would use the upcoming
June 1-2 UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic
Crisis and its Impact on Development to push for an outcome
document that would for the first time, give the UN General
Assembly a role in negotiations on revamping the Bretton
Woods financial institutions and the world financial system.
Sawers urged the United States to work with the UK to monitor
preparatory meetings for the conference, quickly push back
against the introduction of activist policy language into the
outcome document, and split off more moderate G-77 countries
who are already G-20 members.
3. (C) Ambassador Rice noted that dramatic rhetoric on the
need for the UN to play a central role in reforming the world
financial system was nothing new and that the USG did not see
the June UN conference as a forum to consider seriously
recommendations for Bretton Woods reform, but rather as an
opportunity to discuss the UN's role in mitigating the impact
of the financial crisis on developing countries. She agreed
that it would be important to work with the Netherlands (a
co-facilitator for the negotiations on a conference outcome
document) to tone down expectations and ensure that moderate
G-77 countries continue to see the G-20 discussions as the
proper venue for discussing BWI reform.
4. (U) On climate change, Alexander referred to the upcoming
Copenhagen climate change ministerial talks and asked what
initiatives the US might bring to the table. Ambassador Rice
encouraged the EU to provide new thinking on a framework for
creatively tackling adaptation and other issues, noting that
for now, the Obama Administration will be focused largely on
working with Congress to develop a domestic framework for
addressing climate change. Alexander noted the difficulties
in achieving a high-level political consensus on a common
European position at the June European COUNCIL session given
that most EU member states were still resolving inter-agency
or ministerial differences on NATIONAL positions regarding
financing for adaptation.
5. (U) Ambassador Rice stated that there were many difficult
issues to work through on adaptation, such as whether
adaptation funding would count toward fulfilling ODA
commitments toward achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals. In speaking further about development assistance, she
noted that President Obama sees USG support for MDG
achievement as a priority. As the new Administration
assesses the US foreign assistance infrastructure, enhanced
USUN NEW Y 00000458 002 OF 002
support for fragile states would also be a USG priority.
Ambassador Rice noted shortcomings in how the World Bank, the
OECD, the UN, the G-8 and other coordination and
multi-lateral institutions tackle the intersection between
security and development that is at the heart of helping
fragile states.
6. (SBU) Minister Alexander agreed, noting that the UK had
launched a fundamental re-examination of its "traditional"
assistance approach in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
in order to develop policy alternatives for encouraging
lasting SECURITY sector reform. He commented that the UK
would continue to encourage the World Bank to work past
restrictions on its ability to offer SECURITY sector
assistance and do more to address SECURITY concerns alongside
its traditional developmental assistance. He and his staff,
however, saw the UN as the appropriate venue to
comprehensively address SECURITY and development and he urged
Ambassador Rice to closely work with the UK in the long-term
task of strengthening the UN's peacebuilding architecture,
including the Peacebuilding Commission and the Secretariat's
Peacebuilding Support Office. He and Ambassador Rice agreed
that the US and UK should engage the new UNDP Administrator
Linda Clark to push for better coordination of UN
peacebuilding activities and more oppo
rtunity for bilateral civilian peacebuilding "rosters" to
provide support to UN activities.
Rice
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: UNGA PGOV KGHG EFIN ECON EAID
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH UK MINISTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT DOUGLAS ALEXANDER
Classified By: ECOSOC Minister-Counselor Robert Hagen for reasons 1.5(b
) and (d)
1. SUMMARY: In an April 27 meeting with Ambassador Rice,
the UK Minister for Development Douglas Alexander and UK PR
John Sawers expressed concern over the potential for the UN
June 1-2 financial crisis conference to disrupt the G-20
international financial architecture reform discussions.
Alexander urged the USG to take on a leadership role
regarding two key issues that will be taken up at the
Copenhagen Climate Change ministerial: developing interim
carbon dioxide emission targets for emerging countries, and
international assistance for adaptation to climate change by
developing countries. In speaking about achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals, Alexander agreed with
Ambassador Rice that support for fragile states, particularly
in strengthening governance, should be a core priority, and
urged the USG to work with the UK on strengthening the UN
peacebuilding architecture. END SUMMARY
2. (C) On April 27, Ambassador Rice met with the UK Secretary
of State for the Ministry of International Development
Douglas Alexander. Alexander was accompanied by UK Permanent
Representative John Sawers. Alexander and Sawers began the
meeting by noting their concern that Cuba, Iran, Venezuela
and other "radical" G-77 countries would use the upcoming
June 1-2 UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic
Crisis and its Impact on Development to push for an outcome
document that would for the first time, give the UN General
Assembly a role in negotiations on revamping the Bretton
Woods financial institutions and the world financial system.
Sawers urged the United States to work with the UK to monitor
preparatory meetings for the conference, quickly push back
against the introduction of activist policy language into the
outcome document, and split off more moderate G-77 countries
who are already G-20 members.
3. (C) Ambassador Rice noted that dramatic rhetoric on the
need for the UN to play a central role in reforming the world
financial system was nothing new and that the USG did not see
the June UN conference as a forum to consider seriously
recommendations for Bretton Woods reform, but rather as an
opportunity to discuss the UN's role in mitigating the impact
of the financial crisis on developing countries. She agreed
that it would be important to work with the Netherlands (a
co-facilitator for the negotiations on a conference outcome
document) to tone down expectations and ensure that moderate
G-77 countries continue to see the G-20 discussions as the
proper venue for discussing BWI reform.
4. (U) On climate change, Alexander referred to the upcoming
Copenhagen climate change ministerial talks and asked what
initiatives the US might bring to the table. Ambassador Rice
encouraged the EU to provide new thinking on a framework for
creatively tackling adaptation and other issues, noting that
for now, the Obama Administration will be focused largely on
working with Congress to develop a domestic framework for
addressing climate change. Alexander noted the difficulties
in achieving a high-level political consensus on a common
European position at the June European COUNCIL session given
that most EU member states were still resolving inter-agency
or ministerial differences on NATIONAL positions regarding
financing for adaptation.
5. (U) Ambassador Rice stated that there were many difficult
issues to work through on adaptation, such as whether
adaptation funding would count toward fulfilling ODA
commitments toward achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals. In speaking further about development assistance, she
noted that President Obama sees USG support for MDG
achievement as a priority. As the new Administration
assesses the US foreign assistance infrastructure, enhanced
USUN NEW Y 00000458 002 OF 002
support for fragile states would also be a USG priority.
Ambassador Rice noted shortcomings in how the World Bank, the
OECD, the UN, the G-8 and other coordination and
multi-lateral institutions tackle the intersection between
security and development that is at the heart of helping
fragile states.
6. (SBU) Minister Alexander agreed, noting that the UK had
launched a fundamental re-examination of its "traditional"
assistance approach in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
in order to develop policy alternatives for encouraging
lasting SECURITY sector reform. He commented that the UK
would continue to encourage the World Bank to work past
restrictions on its ability to offer SECURITY sector
assistance and do more to address SECURITY concerns alongside
its traditional developmental assistance. He and his staff,
however, saw the UN as the appropriate venue to
comprehensively address SECURITY and development and he urged
Ambassador Rice to closely work with the UK in the long-term
task of strengthening the UN's peacebuilding architecture,
including the Peacebuilding Commission and the Secretariat's
Peacebuilding Support Office. He and Ambassador Rice agreed
that the US and UK should engage the new UNDP Administrator
Linda Clark to push for better coordination of UN
peacebuilding activities and more oppo
rtunity for bilateral civilian peacebuilding "rosters" to
provide support to UN activities.
Rice