SECURITY COUNCIL LUNCH WITH SYG BAN: MINURCAT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000089 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL KPKO CD LY SU CT KN IV SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL LUNCH WITH SYG BAN: MINURCAT, COTE D'IVOIRE AND DPRK DISCUSSED ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a lunch hosted by the French Mission for Security Council members on February 12, Secretary General Ban discussed the future status of the UN Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT),Cote D'Ivoire and Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe's recent trip to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). On MINURCAT, Ban stated that the GoC could not take over responsibility for security provided by MINURCAT and that the UN would not de-link the military and civilian presence in Chad. Members agreed that Ban should make strong efforts to persuade Deby to continue the MINURCAT mandate. On Cote d'Ivoire, Ban agreed that the Secretariat needed better information and he promised to speak with mediator President Compaore. On DPRK, Ban indicated that Pascoe's trip was successful in reestablishing UN-DPRK contacts; the United Kingdom said that Pascoe should report to the Council on his return, with China indicating that issues other than the UN's relationship to the DPRK should not be discussed. End Summary. MINURCAT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On February 12, the French Mission in its capacity as President of the Security Council hosted a lunch for Secretary General Ban with Security Council members. SYG Ban stated that MINURCAT was succeeding and noted that the GoC was not equipped to take over responsibility for the security the mission provided. He also stated that, although the GoC had indicated it would be content for civilian MINURCAT staff to remain and for military troops to withdraw, the UN cannot de-link the civilian and military components of the mission. Ban also said that if MINURCAT withdrew, troops based in Central African Republic would withdraw as well, and humanitarians would suffer. ¶3. (SBU) France indicated that Chadian President Deby believes he has been slighted by the UN and that further dialogue, avoiding extremes, was necessary. Ambassador Wolff strongly advocated that the Security Council should make every effort to reverse Deby's decision. Wolff noted that the Security Council had stated it would not allow what happened to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) to become a precedent, and precipitous withdrawal of MINURCAT could be just that. Wolff stated that if Deby feels slighted, the Council needs to know why. Wolff also noted the regional implications of withdrawal, including potential spill-over from possible violence resulting from elections in Sudan and CAR in April, along with the January referendum in Sudan. ¶4. (SBU) Russia agreed that the Council should persuade Deby to be reasonable but stressed that only the Secretariat should negotiate the terms for extension of MINURCAT's mandate. Russia noted that often there is an inverse relationship between public statements and what, in reality, governments are prepared to do. Russia also mentioned the infrastructure that the UN had promised to build would ultimately be left to the GoC, and this could be a factor in negotiations. China noted that Deby had never been enthusiastic about MINURCAT and that the Secretariat needs to find him a face-saving way out. ¶5. (SBU) Turkey encouraged the Secretariat to persuade the GoC that it is not in its interest to withdraw MINURCAT. Nigeria suggested that the Council of African Elders be asked to intervene with Deby, and that if the Elders agreed to do so, Deby likely would change his position. Brazil also agreed that Deby's decision to eject MINURCAT was unwise. Ban concluded that there was general agreement on a way forward and noted that he would personally engage Deby, and that the example of UNMEE should not be repeated -- host governments should not have veto powers over Security Council missions. Cote D'Ivoire -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On Cote d'Ivoire, Ban summarized recent events, including President Gbagbo's suspension of the electoral process; disbanding the government; and dissolving the electoral commission, all under the emergency powers allegedly provided by the constitution. The French said that Gbagbo had agreed to the electoral process at a time when he calculated he could win elections, and that now he is looking for a pre-text to avoid them. The United Kingdom said the Council should react quickly. Ambassador Wolff stressed that we need to examine the facts, particularly with regard to the USUN NEW Y 00000089 002 OF 002 constitutionality of Gbagbo's actions. Nonetheless, Wolff said that the U.S. strongly regretted these actions, noting that elections were the only way to safeguard the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement. China stressed there was no need to rush into a Council response. SYG Ban agreed that the Secretariat needed better information and he promised to speak with mediator President Compaore. Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) -------------- ¶7. (SBU) SYG Ban said that U/SYG Lynn Pascoe's trip to the DPRK had been successful and that Pascoe was currently in Beijing talking to the Chinese. Ban noted that Pascoe did not meet with Kim Jong-il, but he did meet with Kim Jong-il's deputy, the President, and others. Ban said that Pascoe discussed a number of issues, including the nuclear issue. Ban also noted that Pascoe visited several UN program sites, and there were funding shortfalls for these sites. The United Kingdom expressed hope that Pascoe would report to the Council on his return. China stated that the purpose of Pascoe's visit was only to clarify the UN's relationship to DPRK, and that China hoped that Pascoe would not embarrass the SYG by raising other issues in the briefing. RICE