VZCZCXRO1601
OO RUEHBZ RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUCNDT #0049/01 0241556
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241556Z JAN 07  ZUI ZDK
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1165
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0860
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 8865

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000049 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED SENSITIVE CAPTION AND PARA MARINGS) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UNSC KJUS KDEM PGOV SL XA
SUBJECT: UN/SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT: MANAGEMENT 
COMMITTEE ENDORSES MOST CASSESE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT VOICES 
CONTINUED CONCERN OVER ONGOING COURT FINANCING 
 
REF: A. USUN 21 
 
     ¶B. 12/20/06 USUN-IO-S/WCI-L E-MAIL 
     ¶C. 12/18/06 USUN-IO-S/WCI-L E-MAIL 
     ¶D. 12/12/06 USUN-IO-S/WCI-L E-MAIL 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000049  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  USUN M/R joined other Sierra Leone 
Special Court Management Committee members (UK, Canada, 
Netherlands, Sierra Leone, Nigeria) for a day-long meeting 
convened January 17 at the UK Mission to assess the more than 
fifty recommendations to improve efficiency of the Special 
Court outlined in a December 12, 2006 report prepared by 
Independent Expert Justice Antonio Cassese (ref d). 
Committee members expressed support for the majority of 
Cassese recommendations, including steps to enhance judicial 
leadership of the Special Court, maximize the efficiency of 
Court proceedings, enhance good management, and prepare for 
the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The 
Hague.  However, disagreement among Committee members emerged 
concerning Cassese's call for a "final" three-year budget 
(most supported; U.S. advocated submission of a "final" 
three-year completion strategy accompanied by a detailed 
budget for 2007 and budget estimates for 2008 and 2009 that 
subsequently would be updated and reviewed by the Committee). 
 No formal decision was taken to endorse continuation of 
Court Registrar Lovemore Munlo's contract, though most said 
now was not the time for key personnel changes (a view 
subsequently privately disputed by a Court representative who 
warned USUN M/R that keeping Munlo would "spell disaster"). 
All members agreed that securing adequate voluntary funding 
for the Special Court remained the single greatest challenge 
to ensuring a successful conclusion of the Court's work. 
Committee members will reconvene January 22 for discussions 
with Chief Court Prosecutor Stephen Rapp and Court Deputy 
Registrar Herman von Hebel, followed by a meeting January 31 
with Court President, Justice George Galaga King.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
GENERAL SUPPORT FOR 
CASSESE PROPOSALS 
------------------- 
 
2.(SBU) The Special Court Management Committee devoted the 
majority of its day-long meeting January 17 to discussing 58 
separate recommendations outlined by Independent Expert 
Justice Cassese (ref c). US DEL joined other Committee 
members in commending Cassese for his useful proposals, the 
majority of which met with Committee approval.  However, one 
key issue that prompted considerable discussion was Cassese's 
recommendation that the Court submit and the Committee 
approve a "final" three-year completion plan and budget. 
While other Committee members voiced general support for this 
approach, US DEL noted a distinction between receiving a 
three-year, "final" completion strategy, which would be 
welcomed, and having an accurate assessment of Court 
financial needs for 2007, with budget estimates for 2008 and 
2009 that subsequently would have to be updated and reviewed 
by the Committee.  US DEL said the objective remained to 
encourage the Court to improve its efficiency and complete 
its work within the estimated time periods set forth in the 
completion strategy, or even sooner if possible. 
 
3.(SBU)  Committee Chair Canada advised Committee members that 
Court officials were scheduled to submit a revised budget in 
early to mid-March.  Members then committed to review and 
make a final decision concerning the budget within three 
weeks of its receipt, hopefully before current Court spending 
authority granted in December by the Committee runs out on 
March 31.  Committee members supported a U.S. suggestion that 
clear benchmarks be established for the Court's completion of 
its work that would be assessed by the Committee every six 
months.  Court officials would need to support such 
benchmarks and then abide by them.  To illustrate the type of 
benchmarks envisioned, USUN M/R sketched out the following 
timeline: 
January-June 2007: Judgments to be rendered in CDF and AFRC 
trials; Appeals phase in CDF and AFRC trials to commence; 
Start of Taylor trial in The Hague (to be confirmed); 
 
July-December 2007: Completion of RUF trial phase; completion 
of appeals phase in CDF and AFRC trials; 
 
January-June 2008: Judgment rendered in RUF case - 
commencement of appeals phase; continuation of Taylor trial 
 
July-December 2008: Appeals phase in RUF case completed 
continuation of Taylor trial; 
 
January-June 2009: Completion of trial phase in Taylor trial, 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000049  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
followed by judgment and appeals phase carrying into the 
latter half of 2009. 
 
4.(SBU)  Committee members agreed on additional measures as 
recommended by Cassese to enhance Court efficiency, including: 
 
-- Court President to take a more active role in overseeing 
the Court's completion of its work, including by holding more 
frequent meetings with the other judges and Court principals, 
and representing the Court at more public events; 
 
-- Court to adopt more proactive trial management techniques 
and judges to ensure ongoing trials proceed expeditiously, 
including by adhering to the Court's schedule; 
 
-- Improved communication and coordination among the Court 
President, the Chambers and the Court Registry; 
 
-- Improvements in the operation and support for the Defence 
Office; and, 
 
-- Registrar to improve communication within the Registry, 
share more information with other Court officials, and 
provide better information on personnel matters, including 
proposed downsizing. 
 
CONTINUED CONCERN OVER 
COURT FINANCING 
---------------------- 
 
5.(SBU)  At the request of USUN M/R, Court representative Giorgia 
Tortora provided Committee members with an update on the 
Court's finances, indicating that monthly Court expenses in 
Freetown were averaging $1.9 million, while preparations for 
the Taylor trial in The Hague were costing approximately 
$700,000 per month.  Tortora said that taking into account 
recent contributions, including 500,000 Euros from France and 
smaller contributions from Estonia, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, 
Spain and Slovenia, the Court now had sufficient funds to 
continue operations through May 2007.  USUN M/R noted that 
while it was welcome news that the Court was not facing an 
immediate funding shortfall, the respective budget cycles of 
the principal Court donors (U.S., Netherlands, UK, Canada) 
might prevent needed funds from arriving until much later in 
the calendar year.  This could lead to a budget crisis in 
mid-year unless significant contributions were received soon 
from other countries. 
 
DECISION DELAYED ON 
COURT REGISTRAR'S FUTURE 
------------------------ 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Committee Chair Canada noted that among pending 
decisions still before the Committee were whether to support 
renewal of current Court Registrar Lovemore Munlo's contract 
for an additional period.  Sierra Leone DPR Kanu suggested 
that with three trials still continuing in Freetown and the 
Taylor trial about to start in The Hague, now was not the 
time to make significant personnel changes.  Since Court 
President George Galaga King would be exercising greater 
powers and responsibilities over the Court, Court Registrar 
Munlo will be playing "more of a supporting role."  In 
addition, Kanu said Deputy Court Registrar Herman von Hebel 
was a very competent administrator who could be counted upon 
to keep things on track.  The representatives from the UK, 
Netherlands, Nigeria and Canada all lent support to Kanu's 
comments, agreeing that Munlo should be given more time - 
perhaps another "probationary period" - to continue his work 
as Court Registrar.  Members agreed to seek the views of 
Court President King on this issue when King meets with the 
Management Committee in New York on January 31. (NOTE: In a 
subsequent private meeting with Court representative Tortora 
- strictly protect, she indicated that significant management 
problems were continuing under Munlo's leadership, and that 
re-appointing him as Court Registrar would "spell disaster." 
END NOTE) 
 
NEXT STEPS 
---------- 
 
7.(U)  Committee members are scheduled to reconvene several 
times in the next few weeks for meetings with Court Chief 
Prosecutor Stephen Rapp and Court Deputy Registrar Herman von 
Hebel (January 22) and with Court President Justice King 
(January 31).  Members agreed top priorities remained 
obtaining additional contributions to support the Court and 
ensuring adequate preparations for the Taylor trial in The 
Hague were finalized in sufficient time prior to the start of 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000049  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
the proceedings. 
 
WOLFF