DEMARCHE REQUEST: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR UN SPECIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 015565

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KJUS KTIA CB
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR UN SPECIAL
EXPERT FOR THE KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL

REF: 09 STATE 106946

Classified By: A/S Esther Brimmer for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an Action Request: see para 3.


2. (SBU) Department appreciates USUN's ongoing engagement
with UN/OLA and the Steering Committee for the Extraordinary
Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia aka the Khmer Rouge
Tribunal (ECCC). Department notes that UN/OLA has requested
donor input regarding the proposed appointment of a Special
Expert to advise on the high-level aspects of the challenges
facing the ECCC.


3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Department requests that USUN offer
the name of Clint Williamson for the Special Expert position.
We believe that Mr. Williamson is the best candidate for
this position based on his extensive work with the ECCC and
high level Cambodian government officials in his previous
position as U.S. Ambassador for War Crimes Issues. USUN can
draw on the following points when speaking with relevant UN
officials and donor country representatives regarding Mr.
Williamson's candidacy. Embassy Phnom Penh is authorized to
draw from the same points in conversation with UN
representatives and representatives of other donor states:

- Reiterate US support for the work of the ECCC to hold
senior Khmer Rouge leaders accountable for crimes committed
under their Regime. Welcome the efforts of UN/OLA and the
donor countries to address ongoing issues at the ECCC,
including consideration of the budget, staffing needs, and
strengthening court management.

- Note our extensive, ongoing engagement on the issue of
improving management and eliminating corruption at the ECCC.
Reiterate our support for the agreement between the UN and
the Cambodian government to establish an Independent
Counselor to improve court management and investigate future
allegations of corruption and other misconduct.

- Note the number of issues that remain outstanding at
the ECCC, including ongoing issues related to cases 2 and 3,
budgetary and staffing needs, and the need to support the
functioning of the Independent Counselor position. Express
our support for the creation of the Special Expert position
to advise the UN on ways to resolve ongoing issues and
support the court's work.

- Explain that the US is offering the name of Clint
Williamson as a candidate for the Special Expert position.
Note Mr. Williamson's exceptional qualifications based on his
previous work with the ECCC and senior Cambodian government
officials as U.S. Ambassador for War Crimes Issues. Mr.
Williamson has extensive knowledge of the issues facing the
court, and was intimately involved in the negotiations that
led to the establishment of the Independent Counselor. In
addition, Mr. Williamson is viewed as a dispassionate and
credible interlocutor by all of the parties that work on the
court, including representatives of the UN, officials of the
Royal Cambodian government, and members of the donor
community.


4. (C) BACKGROUND: Four years after its creation, the ECCC
is closer than ever to fulfilling its mandate to hold
accountable senior leaders and those most responsible for
crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime. The court
held its first trial in 2009 and is preparing to try four
additional suspects later this year. The court has also made
considerable progress on strengthening management systems and
eliminating corruption. Notably, there have been no
allegations of corruption within the court administration
since the removal of Cambodian Chief of Administration Sean
Visoth in December 2008.


5. (C) UN/OLA recommended the creation of the Special Expert
position in order to maintain forward momentum on these and
other issues at the court. Cambodian government officials
involved with the ECCC have privately voiced their support
for Williamson's appointment to the position.


6. (C) Department notes that the USG previously pledged to
provide financial support, subject to the availability and
appropriation of funds by the U.S. Congress, for a Special
Advisor on Tribunals in OLA to address pressing issues at the
Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon. (REF). However, the terms of
reference for the Special Expert position currently being
proposed are different, refocusing the position solely on the
ECCC.
CLINTON