VZCZCXRO9875
OO RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0534/01 1801814
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291814Z JUN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2166
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000534 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
IO AND AF FOR FRONT FRONT OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017 
TAGS: UNSC PREL SO MOPS
SUBJECT: AMB KHALILZAD MEETS SOMALI PM GEDI 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
¶1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: During a June 27 meeting at USUN, AMB 
Khalilzad told Somali Prime Minister Muhammad Gedi that the 
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) needs to play a more 
constructive role in building Somali confidence in the 
National Reconciliation Congress (NRC) and take immediate 
action to ensure humanitarian access.  Without a serious 
commitment by the TFG on these issues, the U.S. will be 
unable to garner UNSC support for a more robust UN role in 
Somalia.  PM Gedi responded that the TFG is taking action to 
build confidence in the NRC, but complained about the slow 
delivery of donor support and the unwillingness of NGOs to 
work with the TFG.  PM Gedi asked for U.S. assistance in 
mobilizing logistical support to facilitate the full 
deployment of AMISOM forces, which would allow for a more 
rapid withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------- 
Building Somali 
Confidence in the NRC 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (C/NF) AMB Khalilzad opened the meeting by commenting that 
the U.S. is concerned about continuing reports from Somali 
stakeholders that the TFG is not truly committed to political 
reconciliation.  At this juncture, the TFG cannot afford the 
perception that underrepresented groups in Somalia are not 
having their interests taken into account.  PM Gedi responded 
that he had several "very tough meetings" in Washington in 
which he had been given this message.  PM Gedi added that the 
TFG had already taken a variety of measures to ensure the 
success of the NRC, mainly transferring the mandate of the 
NRC to the National Governance and Reconciliation Committee 
(NGRC) and declaring an amnesty for former members of the 
Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).  PM Gedi added that he had met 
extensively with many leaders of the major clans and subclans 
to encourage their participation in the NRC.  The only 
individuals excluded from the political process are 
"terrorists."  In regard to repeated delays in the convening 
of the NRC, PM Gedi blamed the international community for 
being slow to deliver on donor assistance.  Now that the 
donor assistance issue has been addressed, PM Gedi added, the 
NRC will begin as scheduled on July 15. 
 
¶3. (C/NF) AMB Khalilzad responded that these efforts are a 
good start, but the unfortunate reality is that the TFG 
continues to suffer from a "perception problem" among UNSC 
members that it is not sincerely committed to reconciliation 
or power sharing.  Several members of the UNSC are unwilling 
to consider further UN engagement until the TFG demonstrates 
that it is fully committed to the reconciliation process. 
AMB Khalilzad added that he had some experience with national 
reconciliation processes and the TFG would be well served by 
taking a proactive approach to power sharing, rather than 
having to make painful adjustments later.  Likewise, PM Gedi 
would be wise to avoid uniting and radicalizing the 
opposition forces by "treating all of them as terrorists." 
 
------------------- 
Humanitarian Access 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (C/NF) AMB Khalilzad commented that he had just been to a 
roundtable discussion with the leaders of several prominent 
multinational NGOs, in which accusations that the TFG has 
placed unnecessary obstacles in the way of humanitarian 
assistance had played a large part in the discussion.  PM 
Gedi responded testily, commenting "The problem is there has 
been no functioning government in my country for over 15 
years, and now these NGOs think they're the government." 
Rather, social services are the writ of the government and 
NGOs should work with the TFG to provide assistance and avoid 
setting up parallel structures.  Furthermore, a variety of 
NGOs are linked to Somali businessmen and even militia 
leaders, who are intent on undermining the TFG. 
 
¶5. (C/NF) AMB Khalilzad responded that he appreciated the 
complex role played by NGOs in post conflict situations, but 
the Prime Minister cannot afford accusations from prominent 
and respected organizations that the TFG is impeding 
humanitarian assistance from reaching affected populations. 
AMB Khalilzad encouraged PM Gedi to develop a "differentiated 
approach" to coordinating humanitarian assistance and advised 
him that the TFG would suffer politically from continued 
criticism on humanitarian access issues. 
 
---------------------- 
PM Gedi: TFG Needs 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000534  002 OF 002 
 
 
Full AMISOM Deployment 
---------------------- 
 
¶6. (C/NF) AMB Khalilzad closed the meeting by commenting that 
he understood the Prime Minister has an "extremely tough job" 
and had undertaken significant personal risk to help rebuild 
his country.  AMB Khalilzad asked if there is anything else 
the U.S. can do to ensure the TFG's success.  PM Gedi 
responded that the TFG needs U.S. assistance in facilitating 
the full deployment of AMISOM forces, whose progress has been 
hindered by the lack of logistical and technical support to 
troop contributing countries.  PM Gedi commented that 
AMISOM's deployment would allow the Ethiopian forces to 
withdraw, which would greatly increase the legitimacy of the 
TFG and help it consolidate authority over Somalia.  Anything 
the U.S. could do to facilitate AMISOM's full deployment 
would improve both the political and security dynamic in 
Somalia.  AMB Khalilzad responded that the U.S. appreciated 
the important role played by AMISOM and would look into ways 
to provide assistance. 
 
KHALILZAD