AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH NAMIBIAN PERMREP

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000488

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSCS SF SO WA XA ZU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH NAMIBIAN PERMREP
MBUENDE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. During a May 5 meeting with Ambassador
Rice, Namibian PermRep Kaire Mbuende expressed frustration
with the constraints of the traditional UN voting block
dynamic and suggested that the U.S. and Namibian PermReps
work more directly together on key issues. Mbuende confirmed
Namibia's support of the United State's Human Rights Council
bid and called for constructive engagement with human rights
offenders. Mbuende also underscored Namibia's commitment to
the peaceful use of its uranium, discussed Namibia's recent
work as co-facilitator of the UN System Wide Coherence
process, and its support for gender architecture resolution.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Mbuende noted that the, "UN is a strange place," and
that the voting block mentality frequently forces countries
away from their traditional bilateral allies. Commenting on
Namibia's G-77 chairmanship, he said that although his
country's values were, "closer to Germany," the voting block
structure dictated that Namibia collaborate closely with
Pakistan. Mbuende lamented this dynamic, noting his desire
to bridge gaps and problem-solve with allies by meeting
regularly and exchanging views at a high level. Mbuende
stated that Namibia's participation in UN mandate review
negotiations within a small group of 12 PermReps was
particularly fruitful due to the direct, high-level
discussions that were possible. Ambassador Rice lamented the
bloc voting dynamic and expressed a strong desire to break
new ground with Namibia and find ways of working together on
common UN priorities.


3. (SBU) Turning to the UN System Wide Coherence (SWC)
process, Mbuende said that he is grateful for the U.S.
position on gender architecture. He hopes to reach consensus
on a gender architecture resolution by early September,
although he is frustrated with two-to-three countries that
are slowing the process by using the issue as a bargaining
chip. Mbuende also expressed dismay with some other
(unnamed) countries that prefer to hold the gender
architecture resolution until consensus is reached on all
aspects of SWC. He said that interventions at the PR level
could help move discussions forward when working-level
experts come to an impasse. Ambassador Rice welcomed this
idea, and encouraged Mbuende to reach out when her
involvement would be beneficial.


4. (SBU) Regarding the Millennium Challenge Compact, Mbuende
lamented that internal political bickering within SWAPO had
delayed its implementation. He said some in the Namibian
government had discouraged some Compact initiatives and
acknowledged and that Washington was displeased with
inflammatory comments made by some about Millennium Challenge
Account funds. He stressed that these comments were not
representative of the government's views and that Namibia
should use the funds to encourage new technological
investments in the areas of climate change and alternative
energy, as well as energy self-sufficiency. Ambassador Rice
suggested that Namibia could be a model to others if it
achieves this goal, to which Mbuende agreed and noted
Namibia's need for progress.


5. (SBU) Ambassador Rice asked for Namibia's support for the
U.S.'s Human Rights Council candidacy. Mbuende noted that
Namibia has disagreed with the HRC's working methods in the
past and emphasized that the Council should guide human
rights offenders towards improving their records, rather than
simply condemning their actions. After stating that human
rights are too serious an issue to be politicized, Mbuende
said that the U.S. would be a good candidate for the HRC and
confirmed Namibia's support of the U.S bid.


6. (SBU) Ambassador Rice raised the importance of Namibia's
compliance with UNSCR 1737, stressing that the sale of
uranium to Iran is prohibited. Mbeunde agreed and emphasized
that Namibia is dedicated to the peaceful use of uranium, and
is currently developing a national policy on its use. He
explained that uranium is not traded by the Namibian
government itself, but by privately owned mining companies.
He noted that Iran has long been a shareholder in one of the
companies and refuses to sell its stake to the Namibian
government. Mbeunde opined that because the uranium mining
companies are mainly British, Australian and
Canadian-controlled, there is little risk of a sale to Iran.
Rice