COSTA ANGST RISES IN VIENNA-TIME FOR PLAN B?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 UNVIE VIENNA 000042 SIPDIS ONDCP DIRECTOR KERLIKOWSKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2020 TAGS: PREL SNAR KCRM UN AF PK SUBJECT: COSTA ANGST RISES IN VIENNA-TIME FOR PLAN B? REF: A. REF A: 09 UNVIE 0558 ¶B. REF B: 09 UNVIE 0296 ¶C. REF C: 09 UNVIE 0358 ¶D. REF D: 09 UNVIE 0159 ¶E. REF E: 09 STATE 057099 ¶F. REF F: 09 STATE 0323 Classified By: AMBASSADOR GLYN DAVIES, FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) Action Request for IO/GS. See paragraph 12. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Antonio Costa (Italy) is scheduled to complete his second-and last- term in May 2010. Given conflicting reports as to whether UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon (UNSYG) will extend Costa's tenure, as well as the UNSYG's January 2010 appointment of Italian Filippo Grandi as UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General, Vienna is buzzing with manifold rumors regarding Costa's imminent departure and possible successors. Such rumors and gossip have had an unhelpful impact on UNODC, as longer term planning has given way to rising tension over short-term management and personnel issues-both by the secretariat and member states. UNODC's rising profile in Afghanistan and Pakistan counter-narcotic efforts, and invaluable technical and treaty-based assistance on issues of high U.S. priority, makes it important that whoever encumbers the position have the clarity of vision regarding the trans-national nature of organized crime, drugs and corruption, and the ability and desire to successfully manage a UN organization currently in a state of transition. It is not too early to introduce U.S. supported suggestions to this talent search, but before too long, it may be too late. END SUMMARY. -------------- Give Costa His Due -------------- ¶3. (C) Managing UNODC is not easy. Governed by two different Commissions (Drugs and Crime), funded by two budgets (with just 10% of it from the UN's regular budget, the rest derived from voluntary contributions which necessitates constant fundraising activities),and charged as custodian of three drug treaties, sixteen instruments against terrorism as well as the UN Conventions against Corruption and Trans-national Organized Crime (UNCAC and UNTOC),UNODC is a management nightmare. But Costa, inheriting an organization tarnished by corruption allegations against his predecessor, transformed UNODC from a small and overlooked UN organization into an office that is beginning to regularly make front-page news with its reports on Afghanistan heroin and corruption, as well as its work in the field fighting human trafficking, organized crime, drugs and terrorism. And even now, with a budget adversely affected by the instability that comes with reliance on voluntary contributions (Ref A),Costa is nevertheless moving forward with substantial UNODC programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and promoting better global adherence to UNCAC and UNTOC. In short, while his marks as a manager are mixed, with much of the internal jockeying for positions attributed to weak oversight, and member states unhappy with his occasional failure to consult before initiating new policies or programs (Ref B),Costa has proven himself a dynamic leader who raised the political profile of UNODC's work and improved its operational capacity in directions consistent with UNVIE VIEN 00000042 002 OF 004 multilateral U.S. priorities. He is a strong partner of U.S. efforts to break the narco-insurgency link in Afghanistan, and a useful ally in support of multilateral U.S. drugs and crime objectives. -------------- Will He Stay Or Will He Go? -------------- ¶4. (C) The threshold question, of course, is whether Costa will stay, or go. Per previous guidance (Ref E),UNVIE has not taken a leadership role in the promotion of any candidate for UNODC chief, and, as previously reported, rumors about Costa and possible successors have been low-level and sporadic. (Ref C and D). As May 2010 draws nearer, however, new rumors now seem almost daily. The UNSYG has made no formal announcement on Costa's future, but the appointment of Italian Filippo Grandi to head UNRWA is leading many delegations in Vienna to presume that Costa, who is also Italian, will be shut out of any UNODC extension, given the UNSYG's reported sensitivities to promoting a gender and nationality balance among his senior UN officials. ¶5. (C) According to Norwegian diplomats, UNSYG's decision to let Costa go in May is a "done deal." But others, including representatives of the European Commission, UNODC secretariat and INCB, report that an extension is in the works, ranging from six to eighteen months. Some European countries, notably France, have been categorical in their support for Costa, while others (including Norway and Netherlands) are openly opposed to any such deal. What is clear is that the level of frustration in Vienna is growing, with some delegations speculating that the UNSYG is either unwilling or unable to make a decision on Costa; some are even complaining that the UNSYG is a "people-pleaser who keeps saying whatever to whomever with regard to Costa's future." This rising sense of tension, as well as the overall uncertainty with regard to UNODC leadership, is beginning to overshadow both member states' and UNODC officials' longer term planning focus-a focus much needed given UNODC's dire financial situation and key role in Afghanistan and other U.S. priority regions. -------------- Possible Roster of Candidates -------------- ¶6. (C) Without clarity from UNSYG, the number of names bandied about regarding possible successors continues to grow. Will it be, Pedro Viera Abramovay, the young special advisor to the Brazilian Minister of Justice, who has already started making the rounds to key capitals, including Washington D.C.? The general consensus in Vienna, including Mexico and others, is that UNODC is too important to leave in the hands of such an inexperienced person regardless of his intellectual abilities and potential. Interestingly, Brazilian Deputy Chief of Mission commented privately that the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs disagreed on his nomination, with the MFA opposed to spending political capital promoting someone so "unqualified," and whose principal qualification appear to be his connection to an outgoing Justice Minister. ¶7. (C) Perhaps it could be current International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) President Sevil Atasoy. A Turkish national and professor of Biochemistry and UNVIE VIEN 00000042 003 OF 004 Forensic Science at Istanbul University, she might bring a greater emphasis on drugs to the position, but has yet to be endorsed by her government. Further, given her apparent hostility to "harm reduction" drug policies (as evidenced in a recent presentation to member states where she stated that heroin injection rooms were clearly in violation of the drug conventions) it is unlikely she would garner much European support. ¶8. (U) If any country was interested in the issues of the UNODC, it would be Mexico-a leader in Vienna on drug and crime issues. UNVIE's Mexican counterparts admit they are pushing their capital to decide whether to put forward a candidate, and have privately wondered aloud about INCB member Jorge Montano, former Chief Director of Multilateral Affairs, Permanent Representative to the UN and Ambassador to United States. Another Mexican being mentioned in Vienna is Eduardo Medina, former Attorney General and current Ambassador to UK, although UNVIE has also heard he will not put his name forward. The French Mission speculated about a candidacy by Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa, but the Mexican Charge in Vienna says Espinosa is not interested. ¶9. (U) As previously reported (Ref F),Finland's Ministry of Justice is considering advancing its Director of International Affairs, Matt Joutsen. While his candidacy was quickly shot down by other delegations--including European ones--given the unclear position by the UNSYG and the rising tension in Vienna, his name is again being tossed around in Vienna. ¶10. (C) Judge Kimberly Prost (Canada),who sits on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, is--according to our Canadian colleague--interested in the position. Given her current position (also an Under-Secretary General position),she could lateral her way into UNODC and at the same time fulfill the UNSYG's goal of promoting gender representation in the UN system. ¶11. (C) Waiting in the wings, perhaps, is Argentina Ambassador to the UN in Vienna, Eugenio Curia. A former legal advisor to his government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Curia would be a formidable candidate with substantive background and potential G-77, Latin and South American backing. However, he does not have the international gravitas or professional focus necessary for the position. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Bearing in mind that Costa has just three more months in office, UNVIE requests the Department, in conjunction with USUN, to take action in New York to determine if the UNSYG has a plan or list of candidates for the UNODC Executive Director position. Should a Costa extension look unlikely, UNVIE requests Washington guidance on qualifications or criteria the U.S. would like to see in potential candidates--guidance which UNVIE would promote when discussion on candidates inevitably arises. UNODC is worthy of continued and possibly increased support, but in order for this to happen, UNODC must be led by a chief who possesses a clarity of vision with regard to U.S. critical regions like Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as to the trans-national threat drugs, organized crime, UNVIE VIEN 00000042 004 OF 004 corruption and terrorism poses. Whether that is Costa or a successor, U.S. should elucidate our Executive Director criteria soon in order to minimize the continued uncertainty that is beginning to detract from UNODC's substantive work. It is not too early to introduce U.S. supported suggestions, but before too long, it may be too late. End Comment. DAVIES