USUN MEETS WITH SPECIAL ENVOY TO PAKISTAN RIPERT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000010

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PREF EAID PK
SUBJECT: USUN MEETS WITH SPECIAL ENVOY TO PAKISTAN RIPERT

REF: USUN 001033


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Jean-Maurice Ripert, UN Special Envoy for
Assistance, met with Ambassador DiCarlo on January 6 to
discuss organization and next steps for the Friends of
Democratic Pakistan (FODP) group, the UN's capacity and
security constraints, and donor coordination. Ripert
outlined his recommendation that the next ministerial-level
FODP meeting be held in the end of June, following the
release of the Energy Task Force report earlier that month.
Ripert cautioned that the UN's capacity in Pakistan is low,
as a result of the government's reluctance to work with the
UN and due to the security situation. Ripert pleaded for
fast disbursement of the USG contribution ($1 million),as
the UN account for his office is dangerously low of funds.
End summary.


2. (SBU) On January 6, Ambassador DiCarlo met with
Jean-Maurice Ripert, the UN Special Envoy for Assistance to
Pakistan. He opened the meeting with a plea for fast
disbursement of the USG contribution ($1 million),as the UN
account for his office is dangerously low of funds. (Note:
While the full amount of the appeal to fund Ripert's office
has been promised, disbursements have been slow to arrive.
End note.) Ripert confirmed that the UN is currently
conducting a search for his deputy who will focus full-time
in Islamabad on Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP)
coordination activities.


3. (C) Following Jean Arnault's decision to resign as Special
Advisor to the FODP, the Secretary General has assigned these
duties to Ripert. Ripert explained that after the September
2009 FODP meeting in NY, the FODP group lost momentum;
however, he believes this momentum is on the upswing
following a decision by the major FODP members to meet
monthly in Islamabad. These monthly meetings, which will be
organized and recorded by the German Embassy, will not
include Pakistani officials in an effort to have more open,
candid discussions. Ripert outlined his recommendation that
the next ministerial-level FODP meeting be held in the end of
June, following the release of the Energy Task Force report
earlier that month. The location of this meeting is still in
flux - China has declined to host and South Korea is not
enthusiastic - with Brussels as the most likely location.
(Note: If the USG has a preference for the location of this
meeting, we should make our suggestion known to Ripert. End
note.) Ripert suggests that the FODP special envoys meet in
April to prepare for the June meeting.


4. (SBU) On donor coordination, Ripert mentioned that the UN
has started a donor mapping project. The Pakistan government
remains unenthusiastic for the UN to coordinate donors,
preferring to manage them bilaterally. Ripert reports that
coordination with the World Bank remains challenging and that
the Bank's multi-donor trust fund is still not fully
functional. Ripert reported that the 2010 UN humanitarian
appeal for Pakistan has been delayed, waiting for Pakistani
government approval, but that approval is close at hand.
Ripert has and will continue to travel to capitals of donor
countries in an effort to shake lose Tokyo conference
commitments. Ripert estimates that donors have pledged $5.7
billion, but that only $500 million has been obligated and
less than $200 million disbursed.


5. (SBU) Ripert cautioned that the UN's capacity in Pakistan
is low, as a result of the government's reluctance to work
with the UN and due to the security situation. He offered
that, "while Pakistan needs the UN,it resents the UN,
especially since we do not bring money directly to the
government." Ripert noted that the UN cannot always be the
"bad guy" - others must push issues of rule of law and human
rights. Security for UN local and international staff
remains a primary concern for Ripert. He stated flatly that
the 25 percent staffing cuts only protect those who are sent
out of the country and do nothing to help those who remain in
Pakistan. He identified the continued lack of a unified
Pakistan security command for the protection of UN staff as a
main impediment and asked for U.S. support in Islamabad on
this issue. He also requested U.S. support to release 28
armored UN cars that remain stuck in transit, the lack of
which decreases safe transportation available to UN staff.
Ripert explained he is working with the UN security office to
put in place close range protection for UN offices and
residences.


6. (C) On politics, Ripert lamented the political
"stalemate", calling President Zardari all but "locked in his
palace." While Ripert expects that the President will not be
indicted while he is in office, charges are possible in
Switzerland or the United Kingdom. Ripert noted there is

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little desire to push the President out of office via
unconstitutional means, but instead he may be "arm twisted"
to resign. Ripert characterized the Pakistan reaction to the
U.S. administration's December announcement regarding troop
increases in Afghanistan as "mixed", causing nervousness
among politicians and the general public and wondered aloud
if the announcement may weaken the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral
relationship. He emphasized that public resentment against
the West is very strong, especially in regard to on-going
drone attacks.


7. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Ripert noted that he will be in Abu
Dhabi on January 11-12 for the SRAP meeting and requests a
short meeting with Special Envoy Holbrooke to discuss FODP
and coordination issues.
RICE