AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH NEW ZEALAND PERMREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000085

SIPDIS

WELLINGTON PLEASE PASS TO AUCKLAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: AORC KGHG KUNR PHUM PREL NZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE'S MEETING WITH NEW ZEALAND PERMREP
BANKS

Classified By: U.S. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE, FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. In an introductory call by Ambassador Rice,
New Zealand PermRep Rosemary Banks lobbied for U.S. support
for former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark's candidacy
to become Administrator of the UN Development Program. Banks
also urged the U.S. to join the UN Human Rights Council,
albeit hoping the U.S. would not undermine New Zealand's own
candidacy for a seat on the body this year. Ambassador Banks
spoke in favor of a draft General Assembly resolution on
climate change and the Security Council sponsored by Pacific
Island states, and hoped for a "behind the scenes" USG role
in promoting UN budget reform when the time comes.
Ambassador Rice summarized her top priorities at the UN, and
pledged to cooperate closely with her New Zealand
counterpart. End summary.


2. (SBU) CLIMATE CHANGE. New Zealand PermRep Ambassador
Rosemary Banks welcomed Ambassador Rice to her mission during
a February 2 introductory call and solicited the new U.S. top
objectives for the crowded UN agenda. Acknowledging that New
York was not the center of international efforts to address
climate change, Amb. Rice described her role as trying to
assist U.S. efforts to smooth the path to a new international
agreement in Copenhagen in December, pointing out the
powerful climate change team in place in Washington.
Ambassador Rice noted that Secretary-General (SYG) Ban had in
mind a "mini-summit" in the spring to spur momentum in
international talks, but said the U.S. sought more detail
before evaluating the offer. Ambassador Banks acknowledged a
certain fatigue over high-level UN events that produce little
more than rhetoric. Agreeing that climate change and
development issues intersect, Banks also noted that the
Pacific Island states were pushing a General Assembly
resolution linking climate change with the UN Security
Council. New Zealand is a co-sponsor of the resolution, but
Banks realizes that China, Russia and others have deep
reservations. She urged Ambassador Rice to hear directly
from the Pacific states as to what they hope to achieve from
the resolution.


3. (C) UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL. Ambassador Banks appreciated
the new Administration's priority on nuclear nonproliferation
and UN peacekeeping operations, which the New Zealander
agreed were nearly in a state of crisis. But Banks quickly
turned the conversation to the UN Human Rights Council and
the "universal" hope that the U.S. would soon join the
organization, though without jeopardizing New Zealand's own
candidacy to fill a Western Europe and Other Group (WEOG)
seat in 2009 elections for the next term. Ambassador Rice
noted that the Administration's decision was pending.


4. (C) UNDP SUCCESSION. Ambassador Banks made a plea for
U.S. support for former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen
Clark's candidacy to fill the UN Development Program (UNDP)
Administrator vacancy. Banks noted that Clark has received a
positive response internationally to her candidacy, and that
there did not appear to be many other serious candidates in
the race. Ambassador Rice praised Helen Clark as a strong
candidate and conveyed that the USG had just put forward a
short list of highly qualified U.S. candidates for the
position, each of whom has an impressive background in
development issues and strong leadership and management
skills. The two ambassadors shared notes and rumors as to
other potential candidates, primarily from African and
European countries, and pledged to keep in touch regarding
all candidacies. Ambassador Banks opined that the SYG's
January 31 deadline for applicants will not stick, and that
the ultimate decision could be a long time in coming. She
confessed that states seem to place high value on leadership
skills, which Clark has in abundance, but also highly value a
background in development issues, for which Clark has less
experience.


5. (C) UN REFORM. Appreciating Ambassador Rice's busy
agenda, Ambassador Banks shared her own interest in UN
management and budget reform, saying she highly values the
close working relationship that she has had with the U.S.
Mission regarding UN's 5th Committee issues. While a mixed
bag, Banks felt there has been decent, incremental progress
made in UN reform of late, and wondered if the time is coming
to take on the controversial issue of reforming the UN's
budget cycle. Banks lamented that SYG Ban has not given the
topic the concentrated and strategic attention it requires,
but sees some signs that developing states are realizing that
the UN's current budget cycle system can be run much more
efficiently. Noting the danger of too-visible a USG role,


Banks hoped the U.S. could play a vital "behind the scenes"
role should a critical mass of developing states agree to
meet on the topic. Ambassador Rice noted that the SYG
stressed his commitment to UN reform in both her meeting with
him, and in his conversation with President Obama, but
offered little in the way of specifics. Banks said SYG Ban
tends to only get engaged when things "are a big mess."


6. (U) NETWORKING. Ambassador Banks noted that the informal
meeting of female PermReps initiated by Madeleine Albright
continues to meet periodically, and hoped to have a meeting
soon in which to welcome Ambassador Rice. Banks said senior
UN officials are also included, and opined that the group
could productively meet more often, but currently meet about
every other month. Ambassador Rice said she looked forward
to being involved.
Rice