VZCZCXYZ0012
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1118/01 3311903
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261903Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5440
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001118 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KUNR UNSC UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA DISCUSSES UNSC REPORT; CALLS FOR MORE 
SUBSTANCE AND ANALYSIS; NOTES SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: The General Assembly met 
November 18-20 to discuss Security Council expansion 
(Septel), as well as the annual Report on the Security 
Council.  Unlike in the past, a large number of member states 
devoted significant time to discussing the Report.  President 
of the General Assembly (PGA) Miguel D'Escoto's November 11 
call for member states to review the text carefully and hold 
the Council accountable, coupled with ongoing discussions of 
the Open-Ended Working Group on Security Council expansion, 
contributed to this renewed interest.  As in last year's 
debate, many states continue to call on the Security Council 
(SC) to produce a report that is more analytical and 
substantive.  Others, including current Security Council 
President Costa Rica, praised former Security Council 
President Vietnam for its efforts to improve the Report, 
including gathering member states to discuss what they wanted 
to see in it.  Some noted that the Report comprised a more 
comprehensive overview of the Council's activities.  As in 
the past, many member states continued to call for greater 
participation and transparency; however, their representation 
at SC meetings has not reflected a comparable level of 
interest.  END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
Introductory Remarks 
-------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Vice President of the General Assembly Zahir Tanin of 
Afghanistan delivered PGA D'Escoto's statement in which he 
quoted former PGA Srgjan Kerim's summation of the 2007 
debate, "Some serious concerns were expressed regarding the 
report, in particular the lack of comprehensive evaluations" 
of the Council's deliberations.  D'Escoto's statement added, 
"If the Report indeed lacks evaluation and analysis, then the 
Assembly should make its own." 
 
Introduction of the Report 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) President of the Security Council (PSC) for the month 
of November, Costa Rican Perm-Rep Jorge Urbina presented the 
Report, noting that the Council faced increasingly complex 
responsibilities in shouldering its mandate. He said that the 
Report provided insight on how the Council addressed an array 
of issues, and included detailed accounts of briefings and 
meetings.  Urbina said it would be wise to consider how much 
more analysis could be expected from such a report. 
 
General Debate Begins: Costa Rica Speaks Out of Turn 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Urbina then delivered his national remarks and urged 
future presidents to follow Vietnam's "good practice," 
referring to the meeting it held for member states to provide 
input into what they would like to see in the Report and an 
expanded introduction.  To improve the Report, he said it 
should analyze the Council's achievements and failures, and 
address participation of the body's non-members.  On the 
Oil-for-Fool Program, he clarified that Cost Rica was not 
against closing the program, but rather called for the 
established rules to be followed concerning the presentation 
of documentation "attesting" to Iraq's receipt of services 
and products.  (COMMENT: Costa Rica had negotiated with 
Security Council members that Urbina would deliver the 
Presidency's remarks agreed to by SC members and then later 
in the day deliver his national remarks.  However, at the 
insistence of his Foreign Minister, who was present, Urbina 
delivered his national remarks immediately following his 
remarks as president, which afforded his national remarks a 
higher profile than they would have otherwise received. END 
COMMENT.) 
 
Praise for PSC Vietnam; Additional Suggestions for Improvement 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Colombia and Cuba highlighted Vietnam's work as 
Council president in providing guidelines for how the Council 
works and in informing the body's non-members of the Report's 
preparation process.  They also said that monthly briefing 
sessions would provide an opportunity for establishing a 
dialogue.  Italy said that the Report and its annexes give a 
wide variety of perspectives, but added that within that 
section there existed a constant refrain to deal with the 
representation of regional groups. 
 
¶6. (U) Switzerland spoke at length about the Report, 
acknowledging improvements concerning content and offering a 
number of recommendations.  Regarding the Report's 
introduction, Switzerland (as well as Japan) said that it 
offers a better overview of the Council's regional and 
 
 
thematic work but argued that it could be more analytical. 
To improve the Report it suggested that it reflect the 
Council's assessment and rationales, devote more content to 
the "execution and obstacles" of resolutions, and assert how 
the Council intends to handle new challenges.  As with other 
member states, it also expressed appreciation for PSC 
Vietnam's preparation for the Report. 
 
Calls for More Analysis and Substance 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Though Vietnam had made changes to the Report, several 
member states, such as Indonesia and Tunisia, argued that the 
Report should be more substantive and analytical.  Mauritania 
asserted that the Report needed to include the status of 
issues on which the Council has not taken action.  Bahrain 
argued that the Report should address the Council's failures 
so that member states could figure out how best to resolve 
them. 
Wolff