VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0522/01 1652226
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132226Z JUN 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4427

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000522 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER UN
SUBJECT: GA COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY REVIEW - MEETING 
WITH FACILITATOR 
 
REF: USUN 00469 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary.  The "Facilitator" for the General Assembly 
Counter-terrorism Strategy Review told Amb. Wolff that he 
expects the September review will result in adoption of a 
resolution re-committing but not re-opening the Strategy.  He 
summarized the views expressed during a series of 
consultations with member states "most interested" in the CT 
Strategy and concluded that while he thought a satisfactory 
outcome could be achieved at the review, he is concerned that 
the "Victims" conference could detract from a positive UN CT 
Strategy review.  End Summary 
 
¶2. (U) Amb Wolff met on June 11 with Guatemalan Permanent 
Representative Gert Rosenthal, Facilitator for the General 
Assembly review of the GA Counter-terrorism Strategy 
(A/60/288) which is scheduled to take place on September 4. 
Rosenthal reported that he is conducting consultations with 
the most interested delegations to assess views on the 
outcome of the review.  Based on these discussions, he does 
not expect delegations to reopen the Strategy.  The most 
likely result will be a resolution reaffirming the Strategy 
and noting activities to implement it. 
 
¶3.  (U) Rosenthal said that states with whom he spoke 
emphasized the importance of clarifying the respective roles 
of the Secretariat and the GA in the process.  Some queried 
why the Secretariat was deciding what working groups should 
be established and how often states should receive reports on 
the groups activities?  Another theme raised in the contacts 
was the relationship between GA Strategy implementation and 
the Security Council's counter-terrorism activities. 
 
¶4.  (U) Amb. Wolff noted that the Strategy had been a 
difficult but successful negotiation.  The consensus achieved 
is fragile and the Strategy should not be re-opened.  GA 
Resolution 60/288 represents a good framework for concrete 
actions and that should be the focus of the next phase of 
General Assembly work.  He said that the new Director of the 
Security Council Counter-terrorism Executive Directorate had 
been urged to engage the entire membership and has done so. 
 
¶5.  (U) Commenting on complaints from some delegations that 
the Secretariat is acting without sufficient guidance, 
Rosenthal said that there may be need for a better system of 
consultation between the Secretariat and GA members.  He 
reported that the Islamic group has been particularly 
critical of the "Radicalization" Working Group mandate, which 
they claim targets Islam.  He said the solution might lie in 
regular (3-4 times/yr.) briefings by the Chairman of the Task 
Force (UN ASG Robert Orr).  Wolff agreed that attempts by 
some member states to micromanage the Strategy implementation 
process could create a situation which would hamper progress. 
 He asked Rosenthal about his expectations for the review. 
Rosenthal responded that there may be some difficulty in 
reconciling views but he hopes the GA will adopt a resolution 
that: reaffirms the Strategy, welcomes or endorses the 
Secretary General's Report on Strategy implementation (not 
yet released), indicates what has been and remains to be 
achieved, renews the mandate until 2010 and recommends next 
steps. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Rosenthal also referred to the "Victims" meeting 
proposed to be held at UN headquarters on September 2-3 to 
bring together victims of terrorism. He noted that while the 
proposal by the Secretary-General appears to be a positive 
undertaking, it presents some complex and controversial 
questions.  The UK is funding an expert to assist with 
arrangements for the meeting.  States continue to press for 
details.  Who will be invited?  What criteria will be applied 
to determine participants?  What constitutes a victim of 
international terrorism?  Since participants will not be 
representatives of governments, member states will not be 
responsible for words or actions of participants.  He noted, 
for example, that self-identified Israeli or Palestinian 
victims could create a polarized atmosphere which would have 
a negative effect on the situation in the Middle East as well 
as on UN efforts to foster co-operation among states in the 
negotiation of the Strategy review outcome.  Rosenthal, an 
experienced UN diplomat, lamented that the victims 
conference, which would be largely run by NGO 
representatives, could become quite controversial and spin 
out of control.  While there is widespread support among 
states for the victims of terrorism, some states with whom he 
has consulted expressed concern at the potential for 
politicization of the victims conference and its impact on 
the process. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Comment:  Rosenthal's comments require serious 
reflection.  As the highest profile UN Counter-terrorism 
event since the Strategy's adoption, the victims meeting 
would provide a platform not only for the Cubans and 
 
 
Venezuelans to parade the families of victims of the 
terrorist bombing they allege was perpetrated by 
Posada-Carrilles but also for enemies of Israel to gain 
sympathy for their anti-Israeli activities by identifying 
victims of Israel's alleged "state terrorism".  Comments at 
the May informal consultations (USUN 00469, para 6) lend 
credence to Rosenthal's concerns.  Cuba, Venezuela and Iran 
argued that the absence of an agreed definition of terrorism 
would make it difficult to identify victims of terrorism and 
could lead to "political manipulation."  They asked whether 
States could bring "victims" and whether States would be 
limited in the number of victims they could bring.  In view 
of those remarks, and Amb. Rosenthal's cautionary 
comments,and our own assessment that such a meeting at the UN 
is likely to turn into an anti-Israel rally, USUN urges 
Department to re-consider whether it is advisable to convene 
the victims conference. End Comment. 
Khalilzad