TFSOOL - UN WOULD LIKE TO CONSULT WITH US ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 005825 E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR TAGS: PREL UNSC MOPS PHUM SO SUBJECT: TFSOOL - UN WOULD LIKE TO CONSULT WITH US ON TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS TO "OPERATION RESTORE HOPE" ¶1. CONFIDENTIAL: ENTIRE TEXT ¶2. SUMMARY: IN DECEMBER 7 MEETINGS WITH AMBASSADOR PERKINS, THE SYG AND USG GOULDING ASKED THE US TO CONSULT WITH THE UN ON TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE MAKING FINAL DECISIONS. END SUMMARY. ¶3. IN SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS DECEMBER 7 BOUTROS GHALI AND USG GOULDING URGED US CONSULTATION WITH THE UN PRIOR TO FINALIZING DECISIONS FOR TROOP CONTRIBUTORS TO "OPERATION RESTORE HOPE". B-G EXPLAINED THAT WHILE THE UN HAD NO DESIRE TO SECOND GUESS US JUDGMENTS, THE UN HAD BOTH SYMBOLIC AND SUBSTANTIVE CONCERNS TO CONSIDER. ¶4. FIRST, THE UN WANTED TO AVOID THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LOOP ON A UN AUTHORIZED OPERATION, SO SOME KIND OF VISIBLE LINK WOULD REINFORCE THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION. SECONDLY, IT WAS LIKELY THAT SOME UNIFIED COMMAND CONTINGENTS WOULD BE ASKED TO STAY ON FOR SERVICE IN A REVIVED UNOSOM. THE UN WANTS TO BE SURE THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE UNITS CHOSEN WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER ITS THOUGHTS TO THE US BEFORE OUR DECISIONS ARE A FAIT ACCOMPLI. FROM THE UN'S PERSPECTIVE, B-G LAMENTED, A FURTHER FACTOR WAS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE US APPEAL FOR PARTICIPATION IN "OPERATION RESTORE HOPE" WOULD SIPHON OFF TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE LARGE UPCOMING MOZAMBIQUE OPERATION AS WELL AS THE OBSERVER MISSIONS IN ANGOLA AND SOUTH AFRICA. ¶5. AMBASSADOR PERKINS SAID THAT A CONSTANT PUBLIC IMPRESSION OF "HONEST COLLABORATION" WAS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN. THE PROPOSED CONSULTATION WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR BOTH SIDES AND COULD OCCUR VIA REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN THE UN AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JOINT CHIEFS. THESE COULD ALSO PROVIDE THE CONTENT FOR REGULAR REPORTS BY THE SYG TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL. IN A MEETING WITH USG GOULDING AND PERKINS LATER IN THE DAY, JCS REP ARNOLD AGREED TO TRY TO ARRANGE FOR A FULL UPDATE ON TROOP CONTRIBUTION OFFERS DECEMBER 9, WHEN ADMIRAL BOWMAN AND AMBASSADOR GROVE WILL VISIT UN HEADQUARTERS FOR CONSULTATIONS. PERKINS