VZCZCXRO2798
RR RUEHRN
DE RUEHGV #0647/01 2150703
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030703Z AUG 09
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3110
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9035
INFO RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 GENEVA 000647 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/EDA AND IO/RHS 
USAID FOR OFDA AND ODP 
ROME FOR FODAG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAID ECIN PHUM UN
SUBJECT: ECOSOC 2009 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION 
 
REF: Geneva 582 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  This cable reports the results of the coordination, 
operational activities, and humanitarian affairs segments of the 
2009 Substantive Session of the UN Economic and Social Council 
(ECOSOC), which followed the high-level segment (reftel).  The 
highlight of the three segments was the July 22 adoption, after 
extensive negotiations, of a draft resolution entitled 
"Strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the 
United Nations".  The resolution made important gains by including 
language on humanitarian access and sexual and gender-based 
violence, while avoiding unacceptable language on the occupied 
territories.  Also notable was the July 22 adoption by consensus of 
the operational activities segment resolution entitled "Progress in 
the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 62/208 on the 
triennial comprehensive policy review of Operational Activities of 
the United Nations System" (E/2009/L.18).  For the first time, the 
G77 agreed to language in this resolution acknowledging that 
earmarked funding for operational activities can take various forms, 
and may compliment non-earmarked funding.  This positive development 
should facilitate ongoing General Assembly negotiations on System 
Wide Coherence.  As in previous years, notwithstanding several 
worthwhile panel discussions, the coordination segment remained 
ECOSOC's weak link at the 2009 Substantive Session.  Although 
adopted by consensus, the two resolutions on agenda items discussed 
during the coordination segment did little to advance the segment's 
stated purpose of improving coordination of UN system activities. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Coordination Segment (July 10 - 14) 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. The U.S. joined consensus on two coordination segment 
resolutions, both adopted on July 31. They are entitled "The role of 
the United Nations system in implementing the Ministerial 
Declaration on the internationally agreed goals and commitments in 
regard to sustainable development adopted at the high-level segment 
of the 2008 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council" 
(E/2009/L.44) and "Role of the Economic and Social Council in the 
integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and 
follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits, in light 
of relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 
61/16" (E/2009/L.32).  The former resolution's stated purpose is to 
offer policy guidance to the UN system on implementing the 2008 
ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration, based on a Secretariat report. 
 
¶3. The original draft of E/2009/L.32, contributed by the 
Secretariat, proposed lengthening the periodicity of the annual 
report on the topic of the resolution to four years, in order to 
encourage a more in depth and substantive treatment of the issue. 
However, the G77 was unwilling to endorse this idea, so the 
resolution as adopted only decides to further review in 2010 the 
periodicity of the Secretariat report on the role of ECOSOC in the 
integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and 
follow-up to major UN conferences and summits, and requests 
Secretariat recommendations on the issue of periodicity. 
 
¶4. As in previous years, the Coordination Segment featured several 
worthwhile panel discussions or dialogues. On July 10, the Executive 
Secretaries of ECOSOC's Regional Commissions provided a brief 
overview on the economic situation in their respective regions in a 
three-hour dialogue. The speakers focused on regional impacts of, 
and solutions to, the global financial crisis, in particular related 
to the health implications for different sectors of the population. 
The Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for 
Western Asia (ECOWAS) noted that unemployment in Arab countries 
remains among the highest in the world, leading to an increased rate 
of mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and violence and 
crime among youth.  In the Asia Pacific region, the Executive 
Secretary of the Economic Commission for Asian and the Pacific 
(ESCAP) predicted up to 24.8 million people could lose their jobs as 
result of the economic crisis.  Large increases in budget deficits 
and national debts threaten the future of health spending, while 
putting maternal, infant and child mortality in danger. 
 
¶5.  At a July 13 panel discussion on the Role of the UN system in 
implementing the 2008 ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration, which focused 
on sustainable development, ILO Director General Juan Somavia noted 
there has been a shift in the U.S. position on green growth, 
pointing to the new administration's efforts in the reduction of 
carbon emission.  UNDP Administrator Helen Clark complimented the G8 
for its recent reaffirmation of its commitment to increase aid to 
Africa.  Clark said the UNDP would mobilize resources on a 
case-by-case basis in order to achieve the most effective 
development impact.  With respect to the issue of increasing the 
coherence in the responses of UN bodies, the panelists conveyed a 
hopeful message by emphasizing that UN organizations are coming 
 
GENEVA 00000647  002 OF 003 
 
 
together in ways never tried before.  WTO Deputy Director-General 
Harsha Vardhana Singh noted that both short and long-term 
coordination are required between different sectors to find a 
comprehensive solution to overcoming the crisis. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Operational Activities Segment (July 15 - 17) 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. On July 22, the U.S. joined consensus on resolution entitled 
"Progress in the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 
62/208 on the triennial comprehensive policy review of Operational 
Activities of the United Nations System" (E/2009/L.18).  The 
resolution is notable in that, for the first time, the G77 agreed to 
language acknowledging that earmarked funding for operational 
activities can take various forms, and may compliment non-earmarked 
funding.  This positive development should facilitate ongoing 
General Assembly negotiations on System Wide Coherence, which are 
addressing the issue of "appropriate proportional targets" for 
earmarked vs. non-earmarked voluntary donor contributions.  The 
ECOSOC resolution also notes continuing efforts to strengthen the UN 
resident coordinator system and implement "Delivering as One UN" 
pilot projects in eight program countries and calls for future 
progress reports and evaluations of the challenges and achievements 
of both initiatives. 
 
¶7. Also on July 22, the Council adopted by consensus a resolution 
entitled "Appointment of the Executive Director of the United 
Nations Population Fund" (E/2009/L.19), as well as a decision 
submitted by the El Salvadoran Vice President of the Council 
entitled "Operational activities for development" (E/2009/L.15). 
The resolution, submitted by New Zealand and Norway, regularizes the 
appointment of the Executive Director of the UNFPA in accordance 
with a recommendation of the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board contained in 
document E/2008/35.  The decision recommends that the General 
Assembly request the Secretary-General to postpone, to its 
sixty-seventh session, the submission of the comprehensive analysis 
of resolution 62/208, the triennial comprehensive policy review 
(TCPR).  The decision reflects General Assembly resolution 63/232, 
which extended the periodicity of the TCPR to four years. 
 
¶8.  The U.S. delegation delivered a statement in the general 
discussion of the operational activities segment noting the U.S. 
commitment to working with the UN system to deliver assistance to 
people in need throughout the world and reiterating the importance 
of producing, measuring, and reporting results as a tool for 
achieving greater effectiveness and efficiency. 
 
¶9.  The Council deferred consideration of the report on "South-South 
Cooperation for Development" contained in document A/63/39 to its 
2010 substantive session. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Humanitarian Affairs Segment (July 20 - 22) 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  Following extensive negotiations, the Council adopted an 
informal text entitled "Strengthening the coordination of 
humanitarian assistance of the United Nations" by consensus on July 
¶22. The consensual adoption of the resolution came after last year's 
divisive vote on the same resolution in which the U.S. joined the EU 
and Moldova in abstaining.  Despite the inclusion of language on 
occupied territories, the resolution makes important gains by 
including language on humanitarian access and sexual and 
gender-based violence. 
 
¶11.  The two issues which brought the humanitarian resolution to a 
vote last year, humanitarian access and occupied territories, 
remained the main points of contention during this years 
negotiations.  The U.S., EU, CANZ group, Korea, Costa Rica and 
Mexico led efforts to include strong language on access in this 
year's resolution, arguing that access is a cornerstone of every 
effective humanitarian response.  Syria and Palestine also 
championed the cause of humanitarian access, clearly intended as a 
reference to Israeli policies vis-a-vis Gaza.  These delegations 
also argued for language on occupied territories to be included in 
this year's resolution. 
 
¶12.  During the negotiations in New York, Syria introduced agreed 
language on occupied territories from the 2004 ECOSOC humanitarian 
resolution.  The 2004 resolution had been adopted by consensus, but 
the U.S., Israel, CANZ and EU argued that the language on occupied 
territories was not balanced as it only focused on the obligations 
of States and not other parties.  Lengthy negotiations in New York 
could not resolve this difficult issue or other matters including 
humanitarian access, sexual/gender-based violence and the role of 
regional organizations. 
 
 
GENEVA 00000647  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶13.  The co-facilitators (Australia and Indonesia) issued a 
facilitators' text on July 10 due to the inability of member states 
to agree on a text in New York.  Syria broke silence on the occupied 
territories paragraph of the facilitators' text with the U.S. also 
voicing objections.  Intensive, last-minute negotiations in Geneva 
between the U.S., Israeli and the Palestinian delegation finally led 
to a compromise formulation of the occupied territories paragraph 
acceptable to all sides, paving the way for the consensus adoption 
of the text on July 22. 
 
¶14. After adoption of the resolution, Syria gave an explanation of 
position claiming it had been extremely flexible during 
negotiations.  Syria stated that it did not block adoption of the 
resolution even though it had serious concerns about the 
"politicization" of the document.  Referring to paragraphs 13 and 
14, Syria claimed that the agreed text "put the aggressor and the 
victim on an equal footing" in the context of occupied territories 
and undermined the main responsibility of the State to protect and 
assist civilians in occupied territories.  Terming Gaza a "big 
prison", Syria called on the international community to pressure 
Israel to allow unhindered access to the occupied Palestinian 
territories.  Israel did not respond to this statement. 
 
Remarks by USG Holmes and U.S. Statement 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶15.  In his remarks to the opening session of the segment, 
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency 
Relief Coordinator John Holmes discussed chronic problems and new 
challenges.  In terms of chronic problems, he highlighted restricted 
humanitarian access and attacks against humanitarian workers. 
Holmes catalogued new threats generated by the combined effects of 
what he termed "global mega-trends": climate change, chronic 
poverty, the food and financial crises, water and energy scarcity, 
migration, population growth, urbanization and pandemics.  He stated 
that these trends have exacerbated vulnerability on a massive scale, 
requiring a robust response from the humanitarian community. 
 
¶16.  The U.S. delegation delivered a statement during the general 
discussion of the humanitarian affairs segment emphasizing the U.S. 
commitment to supporting humanitarian relief efforts, and the 
importance of the UN in that process.  The statement is available on 
the USUN website. 
 
¶17.  Several panel discussions took place during the humanitarian 
segment, including events on "Coordination in the transition phase 
between emergency relief and sustainable recovery" and "Addressing 
the impact of current global challenges and trends on the effective 
delivery of humanitarian assistance".  In addition, on July 21, the 
Secretariat's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 
(OCHA) conducted a mid-year briefing on OCHA's consolidated appeals. 
According to OCHA, the 2009 consolidated appeal for all country 
action plans is USD 9.5 billion, up from USD 6.5 billion in 2008. 
However, there is a USD 4.8 billion gap between project funding need 
and current funding provisions. Worldwide, OCHA reports there are 43 
million people in need, compared to 28 million last year. Countries 
with the largest unmet funding needs include Sudan (USD 916 
million), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (USD 505 million), 
Zimbabwe (USD 458 million), and Somalia (USD 428 million). The U.S. 
government continues to be the largest donor to the CAP, 
contributing over USD 3 billion in 2008. 
 
GRIFFITHS #