SYG BAN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON RECENT TRAVELS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000071

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AF HA CY SU YM
SUBJECT: SYG BAN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON RECENT TRAVELS

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR SUSAN E. RICE FOR REASONS 1.4(
B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Secretary-General (SYG) Ban briefed the
Council in closed consultations on February 3, reviewing his
travel to the January 28 conference on Afghanistan in London,
to Cyprus, and to the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, and an update
on Haiti. Ban's overview of the London Conference on
Afghanistan was positive, noting the agreement in London on
UNAMA's preeminent role in relation to civilian coordination
and welcoming the decision by the NATO Secretary General to
appoint Mark Sedwill to the ISAF coordination role. Ban
apologized for the high UNAMA vacancy rates, explaining that
he has recently taken extraordinary measures to fast-track
hiring. At the AU Summit and side meeting on Sudan in Addis
Ababa, Ban underscored the importance of self determination
for the people of Southern Sudan, with elections just three
months away and two referenda in the next year. He clarified
that despite "mis-quotes" in recent press reports, the UN is
not prejudging the referenda outcomes. On Haiti, the SYG
praised the daily improvement of the aid distribution system,
adding that food assistance was reaching nearly one million
Haitians; however, he emphasized the urgent need for shelter
as the hurricane season approaches and stressed the need for
general, long-term engagement. Ambassador Rice outlined
U.S. efforts and emphasized U.S. coordination with MINUSTAH
and the Government of Haiti. Rice also welcomed the SYG's
announcement of Clinton's new role. Ban discussed his first
trip to Cyprus and believes a solution is "within reach" if
leaders have "courage, compromise and commitment." The last
topic of Ban's tour-d'horizon was a brief mention that
Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe will lead a UN delegation
to the DPRK, seeking to re-establish a high-level political
dialogue between the UN and the DPRK. The U.S., Japan, and
France emphasized there can be no pre-conditions from the
DPRK prior to coming back to the six-party talks. END
SUMMARY.



2. (U) SYG Ban briefed the Council in closed consultations on
February 3. He reviewed his recent travels, including to the
January 28 conference on Afghanistan in London, to Cyprus,
and to the AU Summit in Addis Ababa. At our request, he also
provided an update on Haiti. Following Ban's briefing, all
Council members made brief comments and asked the SYG
follow-up questions.


AFGHANISTAN
--------------

3. (SBU) SYG Ban stated that the London Conference on
Afghanistan "achieved its goal", renewing commitments on
issues related to security, development and governance, and
regional cooperation. Ban highlighted Karzai's pledge that
the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will assume the
lead for security within the coming years on a
province-by-province basis. He also welcomed the Government
of Afghanistan's commitment to take on increasing financial
responsibility, supported by a fifty percent increase in
donors' development aid in the next two years, as announced
in the London Conference Communiqu. Ban noted the agreement
in London on UNAMA's preeminent role in relation to civilian
coordination and welcomed the decision by the NATO Secretary
General to appoint Mark Sedwill to the ISAF coordination
role. Ban highlighted the Afghan-led reintegration process
and the international community's commitment to establish a
Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund, noting that a political
process for the reintegration of Taliban at all levels is
needed. Ban apologized for the high UNAMA vacancy rates,
explaining that he has recently taken extraordinary measures
to fast-track hiring. As an aside, he asked the Council how
the UN human resource process can be streamlined for the
future, for all UN missions world-wide. Lastly, Ban noted
the Afghan Government's decision to delay elections until
September 18, stating his next UNAMA report would discuss the
implications and related issues in detail. Ban briefly
mentioned the talks on Yemen which took place in London the
evening before the Afghanistan Conference. He noted that
issues of economic development and terrorism were discussed
and that a formal Group of Friends of Yemen was created.


4. (C) During Council member interventions the United
Kingdom asked for Council support of a press statement on the

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London Conference outcomes. Most members welcomed the London
Conference, with some referencing the future Kabul
Conference. The U.S. and China welcomed SYG Ban's recent
announcement appointing Staffan De Mistura as SRSG Eide's
successor. The U.S. and France both noted with concern the
high UNAMA vacancy rates, asking for continued focus on
hiring and in finalizing the decision on how best to accept
international experts from top donor countries to coordinate
assistance under the UNAMA umbrella. Similarly, the UK
sought further information from the SYG regarding decisions
related to UNAMA civilian coordination modalities and China
asked how coordination between ISAF and UNAMA could be
improved. The Austrian PermRep, in his role as chair of the
1267 Committee, noted he would be as supportive as possible
in moving future delisting discussions along in the
Committee. The Russian PermRep stated that while he
"considers it positive to delist as many possible (from the
1267 list) as long as they relinquish arms, accept the Afghan
constitution, cease all support and ties to Al Qaeda or other
terrorist organizations, and cease all terrorist activities",
but he underscored that there is no possibility of
rehabilitation of "top" leaders. The Russian PermRep
admonished Ban, instructing the UN to inform the Afghan
Government and Security Council of future UN contacts with
Taliban leaders, rather than having them learn of such
contact via press reports.


AU SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA
--------------

5. (SBU) SYG Ban attended the recent AU Summit in Addis
Ababa. On Somalia, he discussed the need to transition the
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),which he
characterized as underfunded. Ban underscored the importance
of self determination for the people of Southern Sudan, with
elections three months away and two referenda in the next
year. Ban clarified that despite "mis-quotes" in recent
press reports, the UN is not prejudging the referenda
outcomes. He said the UN intends to pursue a four-track
strategy: to forge consensus among member states on the way
forward; to continue to strengthen the UN presence on the
ground; to promote discussion on key post-referendum issues;
and, to build capacity of South Sudanese institutions. Ban
also mentioned that the Millennium Development Goals and
climate change issues are deeply related to future peace and
security on the African continent.


6. (C) Council member interventions on Sudan were mixed. The
U.S., France, Austria, Japan and Nigeria highlighted the need
for the Council to actively engage in contingency planning
for possible referenda outcomes. On the opposite end of the
spectrum, Russia forcefully noted that the "unity of Sudan is
paramount" and that the Council should focus on a "single
Sudan." Brazil inquired about the role of the high level
panel, and Lebanon noted that success in Sudan is critical
for UN credibility in Africa and highlighted the importance
of continued UN-AU cooperation.


HAITI
--------------

7. (SBU) On Haiti, the SYG praised the daily improvement of
the aid distribution system, adding that food assistance was
reaching nearly one million Haitians. He thanked the Council
for endorsing his recommendation to increase MINUSTAH by an
additional 3,500 peacekeepers. However, Ban emphasized the
urgent need for shelter as the hurricane season approaches
and stressed the need for general, long-term engagement. Ban
said that Haitian PM Bellerive identified key elements for
rebuilding Haiti, including "less centralized development," a
greater agricultural capacity and better investor relations.
On the last point, Ban said that Special Envoy Clinton agreed
to assume a leadership role over international assistance
efforts in addition to mobilizing the private sector, civil
society and international donors to "build back better." The
UN and Special Envoy Clinton will hold an additional flash
appeal on February 17. (Note: The current flash appeal is
funded at USD 575 million, which represents over 80 percent
of the appeal. End Note.) The SYG said the UN was gearing
up for the upcoming donor conference -- to be co-hosted by
the U.S. and the UN at UNHQ. He commented that Haitian
President Preval preferred mid-April for the conference and
commented that this would be a "reasonable date" to allow the

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UN to generate a comprehensive needs assessment. Ban
stressed the importance of coordination and added that major
donors continue to coordinate closely.


8. (SBU) Council members praised SYG Ban's leadership on
Haiti and many also expressed appreciation for international
assistance efforts. Ambassador Rice outlined U.S. efforts
and emphasized U.S. coordination with MINUSTAH and the
Government of Haiti. Rice also welcomed the SYG's
announcement of Clinton's new role. Brazil agreed with Ban
on the progress made in the country but suggested that the
challenge will be to rebuild Haiti while being mindful of its
sovereignty and aware of the urgent need for socio-economic
development and "human rights for all." Mexico and France
sought more clarity on the content and preparations for the
donor conference. France proposed that the UN provide a
briefing to the Council on the conference as well as general
recovery efforts.


CYPRUS
--------------

9. (SBU) SYG Ban discussed his first trip to Cyprus, which
occurred on February 1 and was timed to help build momentum
for progress in advance of the "presidential" election in
April on the Turkish Cypriot side. Ban stated that all sides
are looking for a "solution now" and that the leaders seek
continued progress on power sharing, governance, EU matters,
and other issues. Ban called the "chemistry" between the
leaders good, and urged "faster, farther" talks. Ban stated
he believes a solution is "within reach" if leaders have
"courage, compromise and commitment." He promised that
Special Advisor Alexander Downer will work to keep up the
momentum of the Cypriot-led process.


10. (C) Council member interventions regarding Cyprus were
fairly limited, with most members welcoming SYG Ban's visit
and continued UN support for the negotiation process.
Austria stated that the current status quo in Cyprus is "not
acceptable." Russia grumbled that SYG Ban's suggestion of
"faster, farther" talks is a slogan better fit for sports and
suggested that the UN should instead follow the hippocratic
oath of "do no harm." Lebanon highlighted the need for the
negotiation process to remain "Cypriot-owned" but hoped that
the UN would be able to help sustain the current positive
momentum of the negotiations.


DPRK
--------------

11. (SBU) The last topic of Ban's tour-d'horizon was a brief
mention that Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe will lead a
UN delegation to the DPRK, seeking to re-establish a
high-level political dialogue between the UN and the DPRK.
Ban reported that this trip follows one and a half years of
discussion, with the last UN official visit having occurred
in 2004. Ban noted that he welcomes comments and advice from
all Council members in relation to this upcoming trip.

12 (SBU) Council member comments on Pascoe's upcoming trip to
the DPRK were brief, with China welcoming the visit. The
U.S., Japan, and France emphasized there can be no
pre-conditions from the DPRK prior to coming back to the
six-party talks. Japan and France further noted that there
can be no compensation to the DPRK until denuclearization
measures are taken. France requested that Pascoe brief the
Council upon his return from the DPRK.


RICE