AMBASSADOR RICE MEETING WITH PERM REPS OF PACIFIC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000756 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR IO, EAP, OES, G, F, EEB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON SENV KGHG AORC UNGA EAID XV SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETING WITH PERM REPS OF PACIFIC SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES REF: USUN 000247 USUN NEW Y 00000756 001.2 OF 002 Sensitive but Unclassified -- Entire Text NO FORN Summary ¶1. (SBU - NO FORN) Ambassador Rice met August 5 at USUN with Perm Reps of Nauru (coordinator of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) in New York),Fiji and Tonga to discuss several issues, including the security implications of climate change. The delegation expressed disappointment that the US submission to the SYG for his report does not mention the PSIDS as among the vulnerable countries and Ambassador Rice agreed this is "ridiculous". She undertook to investigate and work to revise the US submission if possible. PSIDS will hold a September 22 reception in NYC focusing on climate change hosted by Nauru with Heads of State and Heads of Government of virtually all the PSIDS. They have requested high level USG attendance. PSIDS would like the SYG to establish a focal point on the security implications of climate change in the Secretariat and appoint a good-will ambassador on this issue. In addition, to counter what they say is perceived as the US "walking away" from the sub-region and leaving a vacuum to be filled, PSIDS would like to arrange a high-level event between PSIDS and the USA in the spring of 2010 and also to request that President Obama or a senior US official pay a visit to the region to "see how the people live". End summary. ¶2. (U) Ambassador Marlene Moses (Nauru),Ambassador Taumoepeau-Tupou of Tonga and Ambassador Vunibobo of Fiji, accompanied by Tongan DPR Malolo called on Ambassador Rice August 5. Econ off participated as note taker. ¶3. (SBU - NO FORN) Ambassador Moses said it was thrilling to meet President Obama at the reception for the diplomatic corps in Washington recently. (Moses is dual-hatted as Ambassador to the US). While in Washington, Moses participated in a briefing of the HFAC Sub-committee on Asia, Pacific and Global Environment. At the briefing, the PSIDS ambassadors had called for a new era in US/Pacific Island relations, explaining that the US had "more or less left our region" and was now conducting foreign policy "by proxy" through Australia and New Zealand. "We hope that we will not be forgotten under President Obama", she concluded. Tongan PR Taumoepeau-Tupou recalled that when the UK closed its embassy in his country, the Guardian had concluded "The Brits are moving out and the Chinese are moving in". He seconded the request for increased US engagement. ¶4. (SBU -- NO FORN) Moses called for reinvigoration of the relationship with the PSIDS through USAID, the Peace Corps and establishment of diplomatic outposts. She urged Ambassador Rice to support a high level visit to the region, ideally by President Obama. The ambassadors also invited Ambassador Rice to visit the islands, emphasizing that it would be a great signal to women, who were not "keeping up". Other steps they would like to see are a high-level US/PSIDS meeting in the spring of 2010, probably at the HOS/HOG level. ¶5. (SBU -- NO FORN) Nauru's President, as PSIDS coordinator, will host an evening reception September 22 on the margins of USUN NEW Y 00000756 002.2 OF 002 the UNGA at which virtually all PSIDS Headsof State and Heads of Government would be present to highlight the impact of climate change on the people of the islands. Two or three leaders will speak, and there will be a photo exhibit and slide show to illustrate more concretely how people are affected by the threat of displacement, reduction in agricultural production, cooler temperatures and other effects of climate change already being felt by the islanders. They urged high-level US attendance. ¶6. (SBU -- NO FORN) Moser also informed the Ambassador that the PSIDS were meeting with the SYG and would request that he establish a focal point for security implications of climate change in the secretariat. She noted that there was currently no office that was monitoring this situation. When told that they were considering UNDP as the location for this function, Ambassador Rice suggested they consider carefully where it should be located so that it could perform an early warning function and the security implications would be taken seriously. UNDP was not necessarily the appropriate place, she noted; DPA might be more appropriate. ¶7. (SBU -- NO FORN) Ambassador Moses also said that PSIDS were requesting that the SYG appoint a UN good-will ambassador to the region to focus on climate change. She stressed that it was an imminent and dangerous threat. "We need to raise the profile and have a strong advocate." They have proposed Hollywood star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who has roots in the region. (His grandfather comes from American Samoa.) Finally, the PSIDS have sent a letter to the SYG requesting that a PSIDS HOS or HOG be chosen to speak for the developing countries at the UNGA high-level segment on climate change that is scheduled for September 22. Moses asked for US support for these requests. ¶8. (SBU -- NO FORN) Ambassador Moses thanked Ambassador Rice for the "encouraging and heartening" US cosponsorship of the UNGA resolution 63/281, "Climate Change and its possible security implications", and for sending over a copy of the U.S. submission to the SYG in accordance with the resolution. But she expressed surprise and disappointment that the US had not mentioned the PSIDS in the submission, despite having discussed the vulnerabilities of many other countries and regions. She noted that both the National Intelligence Council and the U.S. Global Change Research Program had been cited in the submission, so it gives the impression that the U.S. scientific and intelligence establishments did not recognize the threat to the PSIDS. Ambassador Rice expressed dismay and undertook to investigate this question and seek a revision or amendment. ¶9. (SBU -- NO FORN). Ambassador Rice concluded the meeting by thanking the delegation for friendliness and candor, noting US appreciation for the long record of strong PSIDS support for the US in the UN and beyond. (Comment: Ambassador Rice urges the Department to explore ways to give PSIDS more high level attention and stands ready to assist in this regard. End comment.) The more we can demonstrate our friendship, the better it will be for all. RICE