Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK91
2009-02-04 21:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
UN SEEKS COORDINATION WITH USG AND PAKISTAN ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0091 0352149 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 042149Z FEB 09 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5768 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2146
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)
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
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