AMBASSADOR RICE AND SYG BAN DISCUSS GADDAFI VISIT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000796

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: UN UNGA XD XA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE AND SYG BAN DISCUSS GADDAFI VISIT,
AFGHANISTAN DONOR COORDINATION AND FUNDING FOR WFP

Classified By: Ambassador Susan E. Rice, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: On the margins of a meeting to discuss the
Security Council program of work for September, Ambassador
Rice asked SYG Ban to help ensure Gaddafi's participation in
the Security Council was productive. She also told Ban that
the U.S. wanted to see continued UN leadership on donor
coordination in Afghanistan in the post-election phase, and
that the UN should work to convene soon another donors
meeting similar to the one held in the Hague. Ban appealed
for the expedited delivery of support from the U.S. and other
major donors to WFP operations in Somalia. He noted that the
U.S. had taken the necessary procedures to resume aid but
hoped the U.S. could expedite the process and increase its
level of support. Rice noted recent U.S. concerns regarding
the diversion of resources to Al-Shabaab and other
insurgents, but agreed on the importance of the issue and to
look into expediting it. End Summary.


2. (C) On August 26, during a meeting with SYG Ban Ki-Moon to
review the Security Council program of work for the U.S.
Presidency in September, Ambassador Rice raised the
challenges of the upcoming visit of Libyan leader Muammar
Gaddafi to New York. In outlining U.S. expectations for the
September 24 summit on nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear
disarmament, including the need for all heads of state to
keep their interventions to a five minute limit to ensure a
productive and efficient session, Rice asked for Ban's
assistance in underscoring this message to Gaddafi. The
upcoming climate change meeting, the broad messages by world
leaders during the UNGA General Debate, and the Security
Council Summit should not be disrupted by bombastic speeches.
Rather, Gaddafi should seize the opportunity to help move
these issues forward.


3. (C) SYG Ban said he would look for opportunities to be
helpful. He acknowledged that the UN's integrity and
reputation were also at stake. Ban noted that he would be
meeting with the new PGA, Ali Treki, and Libyan PermRep
Shalgham later in the day and would make the point. He said
that he would likely have an opportunity to meet with Gaddafi
in person as well during his visit. Ban said he has had a
cordial dialogue with the Libyan leader.

THE UN NEEDS TO LEAD DONOR COORDINATION IN AFGHANISTAN
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Ambassador Rice said that Washington expected to see
continued UN leadership on donor coordination in Afghanistan,
including accelerating delivery of contributions already made
and increasing overall support in the post-election phase.
Her message was that the U.S. hoped and expected the UN to
continue this role and work toward convening another donors
meeting similar to the one held in the Hague. Rice
underscored that the UN was uniquely positioned, with the
necessary legitimacy, to coordinate donor assistance and
minimize duplication.


5. (C) Ban said that the UN has done its best to
significantly improve UNAMA and to focus more on aid
effectiveness and socio-economic development in the country.
He agreed that the priority was to manage effectively
post-election assistance. Ban noted that UNAMA continues to
expand its presence. By years end, it will increase the
number of offices by three or four bringing the total to 23.
He also said that the UN will need the strong support of ISAF
for continued success of these operations. Ambassador Rice
said she was committed to UNAMA's success and will be looking
for support in the UNGA to resource it as well.

Funding for WFP in Somalia
--------------


6. (C) Ban reported that the World Food Program was
experiencing funding shortages in Somalia. The situation was
deteriorating and the needs were increasing. Ban noted that
the U.S. had taken the necessary procedures to resume support
but it was now a matter of expediting the process, and, if
possible, increasing its level of support. Ambassador Rice
agreed on the urgency and importance of the humanitarian
crisis in Somalia and said she would look into it. She noted
that the U.S. had concerns regarding the diversion of
resources to al-Shabaab and other insurgents in Somalia which
presented legal issues for ongoing U.S. support. The SYG
responded that WFP had recently appealed to the U.S. and
other major donors for increased support.


RICE