UN SEEKS COORDINATION WITH USG AND PAKISTAN ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000091 SIPDIS FOR IO/UNP - S EDMONDSON AND CA/OCS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2019 TAGS: ASEC OFDP PTER UNHCR PK SUBJECT: UN SEEKS COORDINATION WITH USG AND PAKISTAN ON UNHCR/SOLECKI ABDUCTION Classified By: AMBASSADOR SUSAN E. RICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AND D) 1.(SBU/NF) UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security David Veness invited USUN and the Pakistani Mission to a February 3 meeting to discuss coordination between the three parties regarding the hostage abduction in Quetta, Pakistan of Amcit and UNHCR employee John Solecki. USUN officers were accompanied by an FBI liaison officer from the FBI's New York Office. Veness said that he had instructed UN reps in Islamabad to reach out to Ambassador Patterson. Pakistan Mission Charge Farukh Amil stressed the importance of remaining in close contact with the MFA in Islamabad, which would be taking the lead role for the GOP. Veness has also set up daily early morning coordination meetings between UNHQ, UNHCR in Geneva and Islamabad, and the ResRep's office there. He has invited USUN to particpate in these meetings as a way to keep the Mission fully up to date on any breaking developments, and wants USUN to serve as a conduit for the State Department's and USG's response to the situation. ¶2. (SBU/NF) Veness and his team seek USG's coordinated response to the situation from diplomatic, media, victim and operational perspectives. The UN will be fully engaged on the situation as follows: (SBU/NF) Diplomatic perspective - The UN Resident Representative in Islamabad will coordinate with Amembassy Islamabad, and there has been meeting already at senior levels. In NY, DSS will coordinate with and through USUN. UN DSS would expect that Pakistan Mission attend future meetings re the situation, along with USUN. (SBU/NF) Media perspective - The UN will operate through the SYG's spokesperson's offices. UN DSS would like statement drafts to be discussed to achieve cohesion. USUN rep indicated that USG press statements are constrained by privacy concerns, and stressed that media speculation here and abroad could both hamper the investigation and could prejudice the interests of the hostage and his family. USUN would endeavor to share with the UN, as appropriate, USG/Department press guidance in this regard. SBU/NF) Victim perspective - UNHCR will deal with the family of the driver (Pakistan Local UNHCR staff) who was shot in the attack and died later in the hospital. UN DSS asks what counseling or other services will be/have been offered by USG. FBI rep noted that the FBI's Victim's Assistance Unit has already contacted Solecki's immediate family in New Jersey. UNHCR rep noted that UNHCR Geneva has also reached out to the family and is waiting to learn if it can be of any assistance. (CONF) Operational perspective - UN DSS would like to know USG plans in addressing the situation. The UN needs a coordinated response in Pakistan and the next 24-36 hours are crucial. UNHCR will likely send 2 or 3 people to Pakistan. Veness noted that the FBI usually deploys in such cases, and the FBI has confirmed that it has sent two agents to Islamabad who are likey to arrive early on February 4. Veness also said that UN policy matches matches US policy (e.g., no ransom paid, no substantial concessions, no interference with government policy or mandates). ¶3. (CONF) Veness noted the UN in Islamabad has limited capacity in dealing with hostage situations, and this capacity may be supplemented by the UN in NY. The UN welcomes the advice of FBI and other involved USG agencies. Veness added that it is unclear whether Mr. Solecki was attacked for his UN affiliation, his citizenship or both. The UN as present has 11 expatriate officers posted in Quetta, all on unaccompanied tours. Veness reported that the UN's current intention is to move as many of those officers to Islamabad as operational imperitives permit. UN Security also asks what can the US offer in terms of advice to its Amcit UN staffers in Pakistan--e.g., travel, etc. (Note: An Amcit, Christine McCampbell, is the new UN ODC representative in Pakistan.) Rice