VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0439/01 1522157
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 012157Z JUN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2005
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2721

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000439 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT, FOR, IO/UNP, IO/RHS, GENEVA FOR PSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CG KAWC KWMN PHUM PREL XA ZF
SUBJECT: UNHCHR ARBOUR MAY 31 MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR 
KHALILZAD 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On May 31, UN High Commissioner for Human 
Rights Louise Arbour met with Ambassador Khalilzad to discuss 
her recent mission to the Great Lakes region.   She noted 
many ongoing problems, specifically the overall lack of 
security, violence against women and children, and judicial 
impunity.  Arbour additionally provided her views on the 
Human Rights Council.  She intends to visit Washington in the 
coming weeks - her message: don't give up on all UN human 
rights efforts.  End Summary. 
 
Congolese Military: 
 
¶2. (SBU) The overall lack of security remains the most 
critical problem in the Great Lakes region.  Arbour stated 
that the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration plan 
("DDR") had been a total failure.  Run by the government of 
the DRC and financed by the World Bank, the program had been 
destroyed by corruption, and is now bankrupt.  The region 
remains flooded with weapons. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad asked if any progress had been 
made on the issue of child soldiers.  Arbour stated she 
didn't think so, but that it is difficult to know the real 
rate of success.  She noted specific problems in the eastern 
half of the DRC, where many child soldiers, once demobilized, 
are re-recruited in Rwanda as "there is nothing else for them 
to do." 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad pointed out that the rebel 
militia need to be reintegrated into the military as 
individuals, not as units, and that their numbers needed to 
be limited to a small percentage of the total force.  Arbour 
stated that "mixage" -- where rebel militias are brought into 
the Congolese military but not dismantled --  has now served 
to legitimize and reinforce the militias, making them more 
dangerous than ever.  She added that neither the armed forces 
hierarchy, nor the government in Kinshasa have any real 
control over these militias, and civilian massacres continue 
unabated. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Arbour further stated that violence against women in 
the region is "worse than she could have imagined."  Violent 
rape and torture occurs on a large scale, often with multiple 
perpetrators, and it is brutal.  The violent nature of the 
attacks and the injuries sustained by the women are so 
barbaric, doctors are unable to receive training as to how to 
treat them -- the type and extent of injury are unheard of in 
the civilized world. 
 
Culture of Impunity: 
 
¶6. (SBU) Arbour stated that her mandate is to report, and to 
promote accountability and justice.  She stated the justice 
system in the DRC is failing, and that the culture of 
impunity only adds to the level of overall insecurity. 
Known, indicted war criminals remain unpunished and at large. 
 Warrants are issued, but remain unexecuted, as there is no 
one to bring these individuals to justice.  The guilty remain 
unpunished. 
 
Human Rights Council: 
 
¶7. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad noted the perception that the 
UN machinery dealing with human rights is not doing a good 
job.  Specifically in regard to the Human Rights Council 
("HRC"), Ambassador Khalilzad stated that many have asked the 
U.S. to participate, but that the HRC "has to move in the 
right direction first."  He acknowledged some recent progress 
on the election of Bosnia over Belarus, but stated that the 
Council is perceived as ineffective and unbalanced. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Arbour did not disagree, but stated she is not quite 
as pessimistic about the HRC as Ambassador Khalilzad, noting 
there are 47 member states, and like other political bodies, 
the HRC is dominated by powerful regional alliances.  "The 
Islamic conference is the most powerful, because they are the 
most organized."  Because Asia and Africa dominate right now, 
Latin America and Europe simply don't have the votes, and 
therefore any Latin or European agenda needs to be finessed. 
She acknowledged that the HRC has been very protective of 
certain issues, particularly of Sudan, but believes those 
alliances are loosening, and that there is cause for hope. 
When Ambassador Khalilzad raised the HRC,s negative actions 
towards Israel and the U.S., Arbour acknowledged that the HRC 
seems fixated on Israel, which the Council views as critical 
in resolving conflict in the region.  She stated that in her 
view, the U.S. is less of a target, although she noted Cuba's 
periodic agitation. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Arbour stated that if she had one message for the 
 
 
Ambassador, it is "don't write off all UN human rights 
efforts."  Khalilzad said that the U.S. supports UN human 
rights efforts, but at the moment, not the efforts of the 
HRC.  As an aside, Arbour stated that the HRC is attempting 
to exert control over her own actions and her Office -- a 
move she is strongly resisting. 
 
Upcoming Visit to Washington: 
 
¶10. (SBU) In closing, Ambassador Khalilzad asked if there is 
anything he could do to assist with Arbour,s upcoming trip 
to Washington.  Arbour commented that she has been in her 
position for almost three years, and the U.S. is the only P-5 
nation that has yet to extend an invitation for her to visit 
-- she has been invited by all the other P-5 members, and 
visited some - specifically Russia - more than once.  For her 
upcoming trip, she said she may have an appointment with 
Under Secretary Burns, but because of scheduling conflicts he 
may be the only one available.  Ambassador Khalilzad said he 
would put in a call to U/S Burns to facilitate this 
appointment.  During the visit, Arbour added she will also 
have lunch with members of the U.S. Supreme Court, and also 
plans to meet with a number of Senators. 
KHALILZAD