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TO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA IMMEDIATE 0000
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RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 0000
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS STATE 091632 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UNGA KPKO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: INVITATION TO MEETING WITH 
PRESIDENT OBAMA DURING UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) This is an urgent action request.  Ambassadors 
are requested to deliver President Obama's invitation 
(paragraph 4) to Heads of State or Heads of Government of 
action addressee posts, representing the top contributors of 
troops and police contingents to UN peacekeeping operations. 
USUN is also requested to send a copy of the invitation to the 
relevant Permanent Missions to the UN.  The meeting will be 
held on September 23, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. 
Invitations should be delivered at the highest appropriate 
level and it should be stressed that this meeting will be 
conducted at the Head of State/Head of Government level only. 
No signed original will be forthcoming.  Posts are requested to 
stress to their interlocutors that the goal is a substantive 
and interactive discussion rather than consecutive formal 
remarks.  Since time is limited, Heads of State/Government 
should limit each of their interventions to no more than two 
minutes; Paragraphs 2 and 3 contain background information for 
Embassies.  Embassies are requested to confirm response and 
level of participation at the earliest opportunity. 
 
¶2.  FOR EMBASSY NEW DELHI:  We understand that India is not 
currently planning to be represented at the UNGA at the Head 
of State or Head of Government level, but will be attending 
the G-20 on September 24.  Indian participation in this 
peacekeeping event is a high priority for the White House, 
which deeply appreciates India's longstanding contributions in 
the field; Embassy is requested to express that wish in the 
clearest possible terms, as the event will benefit 
significantly from India's presence. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Background: 
 
The attached invitation is to an event that will 
underscore the commitment of the United States to support 
strong, effective UN peacekeeping.  The meeting will 
provide an opportunity for the President to demonstrate 
that the United States values the contribution and 
sacrifices of troop- and police-contributing countries 
(TCCs/PCCs) and that we understand their concerns. We hope 
that this outreach will encourage TCC/PCC to continue to 
participate in the more difficult missions, increase their 
willingness to work with the U.S. on continuing efforts to 
strengthen and improve peacekeeping operations, and send a 
positive political signal to potential new contributors of 
U.S. interest in peacekeeping operations.  TCCs/PCCs argue 
that their contributions are often taken for granted, 
including when the Security Council renews mandates for UN 
operations; and while large contributors such as the U.S. 
fund the missions (the U.S. is assessed over 25 percent of 
the cost of UN peacekeeping), the TCCs/PCCs face the risks 
and challenges in the field. Over the past six months the 
Security Council has held a series of meetings to discuss 
how to make the best decisions on new and renewed mandates 
for UN peacekeeping operations, including how to 
substantially improve dialogue among the TCCs/PCCs, the 
Security Council and the Secretariat.  This meeting would 
demonstrate the United States' seriousness in following 
through on that commitment.  President Obama intends to 
make brief opening remarks, and then moderate an 
interactive discussion on the following two questions: 
What are the biggest challenges you face, as a TCC/PCC to 
UN operations, and what can the United Nations and the 
United States do to help?  What peacekeeping reforms are 
most urgently required on which the United States and 
TCCs/PCCs can work together at the UN?   No prepared 
remarks are expected.  We ask that each of the interventions 
be limited to two minutes.  UN missions of invited heads of 
state/government will be advised separately in New York by 
the U.S. Mission to the United Nations on location of 
meeting and other logistical details. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  To accommodate the short time available for the 
meeting, this invitation is being extended only to those 
countries which comprise the top ten  contributors of 
military and/or police personnel to UN peacekeeping 
operations, as of July 31, 2009 (the most recent date for 
official UN deployment statistics). 
The following, for Embassy information only, is a list of the 
ten countries, in rank order as of July 31, 2009, showing the 
UN missions to which they are deployed, plus the total number 
of uniformed personnel they contribute.  The UN lists military 
personnel as either "military observers" (unarmed, often 
monitoring aspects of a peace agreement) or "troops." 
"Troops" includes military personnel in all other categories, 
including, for example, infantry, staff officers, medical 
personnel, and drivers.  Missions vary in size, so posts 
should take "significant" to mean relative to the overall 
size of the mission.  The UN's Department of Peacekeeping 
Operations and Department of Political Affairs also manage 
several largely civilian "political" and "integrated" 
missions that have small military or police components. 
 
Pakistan: Political mission in Burundi (BINUB); UN 
peacekeeping missions in Chad/Central African Republic 
(MINURCAT), Western Sahara (MINURSO), Haiti (MINUSTAH), 
Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), 
Kosovo (UNMIK), Liberia (UNMIL), southern Sudan (UNMIS), 
Timor Leste (UNMIT) and Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  Total: 
10,620.  Pakistan is a significant contributor of police 
in Haiti (247), Darfur (138), Timor Leste (168) and Cote 
d?Ivoire (125).  It is a significant troop contributor in 
Congo (3,590), Darfur (512), Liberia (3,064), Southern 
Sudan (1,477), and Cote d?Ivoire (1,137).  A Pakistani is 
the UNMIS Special Representative of the Secretary-General 
(Ambassador equivalent). 
 
Bangladesh:  Political missions in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and 
Burundi (BINUB); UN peacekeeping missions in Chad/Central 
African Republic (MINURCAT), Western Sahara (MINURSO), 
Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), 
Liberia (UNMIL), Southern Sudan (UNMIS), Timor Leste 
(UNMIT) and Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  Total:  9,342. 
Bangladesh is a significant contributor of police in Congo 
(250), Darfur (636), Timor Leste (192) and Cote d?Ivoire 
(252).  It is a significant troop contributor in Congo 
(1,332), Darfur (587), Liberia (2,338), Southern Sudan 
(1,545), and Cote d'Ivoire (2,082).  A Bangladeshi is the 
UNMIL force commander (senior military position). 
 
India: UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti (MINUSTAH), 
Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Golan Heights 
(UNDOF), Cyprus (UNFICYP), Lebanon (UNIFIL), Liberia 
(UNMIL), Southern Sudan (UNMIS), Timor Leste (UNMIT) and 
Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  Total:  8,753.  India is a 
significant contributor of police in Haiti (150), Congo 
(248), and Liberia (248).  It is a significant troop 
contributor in Congo (4,267), Golan Heights (194), Lebanon 
(894),  and Southern Sudan (2,607).  Indians hold 
leadership positions in MONUC as Police Commissioner (the 
senior police position) and UNMIT as Special 
Representative of the Secretary-General (Ambassador 
equivalent). 
 
Nigeria: Political mission in Burundi (BINUB); UN 
peacekeeping missions in Chad/Central African Republic 
(MINURCAT), Western Sahara (MINURSO), Haiti (MINUSTAH), 
Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), 
Liberia (UNMIL), Southern Sudan (UNMIS), Timor Leste 
(UNMIT) and Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  Total:  5,977. 
Nigeria is a significant contributor of police in Haiti 
(123), Darfur (538), and Timor Leste (52).  It is a major 
troop contributor in Darfur (3,337) and Liberia (1,659). 
A Nigerian general has just completed a tour as UNAMID 
Force Commander (senior military position). 
 
Nepal: Political missions in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Iraq 
(UNAMI); UN peacekeeping missions in Chad/Central African 
Republic (MINURCAT), Haiti (MINUSTAH), Democratic Republic 
of Congo (MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), Lebanon (UNIFIL), 
Liberia (UNMIL), Southern Sudan (UNMIS), Timor Leste 
(UNMIT),  Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), and the Middle East 
(UNTSO).  Total:  4,159.  Nepal is a significant 
contributor of police in Haiti (172), Darfur (224), 
Liberia (248), and Timor Leste (75).  It is a significant 
troop contributor in Haiti (1,076), Congo (1,330), and 
Lebanon (866).  A Nepalese is the UNMIS Force Commander 
(senior military position). 
 
Rwanda:  UN peacekeeping missions in Chad/Central African 
Republic (MINURCAT), Haiti (MINUSTAH), Darfur (UNAMID), 
Liberia (UNMIL), Southern Sudan (UNMIS), and Cote d'Ivoire 
(UNOCI).  Total:  3,608.  Rwanda is a significant troop 
contributor in Darfur (3,236) and Southern Sudan (256).  A 
Rwandan is the UNAMID Force Commander. 
 
Jordan: Political missions in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Iraq 
(UNAMI) and Nepal (UNMIN); UN peacekeeping missions in 
Chad/Central African Republic (MINURCAT), Western Sahara 
(MINURSO), Haiti (MINUSTAH), Democratic Republic of Congo 
(MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), Liberia (UNMIL), Southern Sudan 
(UNMIS), Timor Leste (UNMIT) and Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI). 
Total:  3,248.  Jordan is a significant contributor of 
police in Haiti (323), Darfur (146), Liberia (260), and 
Cote d?Ivoire (382).  It is a significant troop 
contributor in Haiti (728) and Cote d'Ivoire (1,058), and 
provides a critical medical unit in Liberia (120).  A 
Jordanian is Deputy Special Representative of the 
Secretary-General (DCM equivalent) in MINURCAT.  Prince 
Zeid of Jordan, currently Ambassador in Washington and 
formerly Permanent Representative to the UN has been a key 
player in efforts to address problems with UN peacekeeping, 
first as head of a panel that made sweeping recommendations 
on steps to address sexual exploitation and abuse by UN 
peacekeepers, and currently an advisor to an independent study 
due out soon that will recommend how to operationalize 
peacekeeping mandates to protect civilians. 
 
Ghana: Political missions in Afghanistan and Burundi 
(BINUB); UN peacekeeping missions in Chad/Central African 
Republic (MINURCAT), Western Sahara (MINURSO), Democratic 
Republic of Congo (MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), Lebanon 
(UNIFIL), Kosovo (UNMIK),  Liberia (UNMIL), Southern Sudan 
(UNMIS), and Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI).  Total:  3,160.  Ghana 
is a significant contributor of police in Darfur (206). 
It is a significant troop contributor in Congo (462), 
Lebanon (874), Liberia (703), and Cote d'Ivoire (542). 
Ghanaians hold the Deputy Special Representative of the 
Secretary-General positions (DCM equivalent)in UNAMID and 
UNMIL. 
 
Egypt: Political mission in Nepal (UNMIN); UN peacekeeping 
missions in Chad/Central African Republic (MINURCAT), 
Western Sahara (MINURSO), Haiti (MINUSTAH), Democratic 
Republic of Congo (MONUC), Darfur (UNAMID), Liberia 
(UNMIL), Southern Sudan (UNMIS), and Timor Leste (UNMIT). 
Total:  3,146.  Egypt is a significant contributor of 
troops in Darfur (2,085) and Southern Sudan (817). 
 
Italy:  UN peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara 
(MINURSO), Darfur (UNAMID), Cyprus (UNFICYP), Lebanon 
(UNIFIL), Kosovo (UNMIK), Liberia (UNMIL), Timor Leste 
(UNMIT), Jammu & Kashmir (UNMOGIP), and the Middle East 
(UNTSO).  Total:  2,701.  Italy is a significant 
contributor of troops in Lebanon (2,673).  The Special 
Representative of the Secretary-General (Ambassador) in 
UNMIK is Italian, as is the UNIFIL Force Commander (senior 
military representative). 
 
¶5. (SBU) Begin invitation: 
 
Dear Mr./Madam (Title of Head of State/Government), 
 
I have the honor of hosting an unprecedented meeting of 
top troop and police contributors to United Nations 
peacekeeping operations.  Your participation at this 
meeting, to be held on September 23 at UN Headquarters, 
would be greatly appreciated. 
 
UN peacekeeping is one of the most important tools 
available to the international community to help prevent 
and resolve conflict and assist war-torn countries to make 
the transition to sustainable peace.  The success of UN 
peacekeeping depends heavily on the troop and police 
contributions of countries such as yours.  I hope you will 
permit me the opportunity to express appreciation for your 
country's contributions and sacrifice on  September 23, 
from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., when I will host a 
Summit-level meeting of the United States and Heads of 
State or Government of the top contributors of troops and 
police to UN peacekeeping operations. 
 
As a permanent member of the Security Council and the 
leading financial contributor, the United States has a 
deep interest in enhancing the effectiveness and 
efficiency of current and future UN peacekeeping 
operations.  I know that your country does, too, as a top 
contributor of troops and police to those operations.  We 
value the contributions you and your valiant uniformed 
personnel make to international peace and security, and 
the risks they take every day; their dedication enhances 
respect for peace and reduces suffering. We all have a 
stake in the outcome of such conflicts; the United States 
believes that renewed and strengthened cooperation between 
all the stakeholders, including members of the Security 
Council and the troop- and police-contributing countries, 
is the only way to respond to the ever-growing challenges 
of UN peacekeeping today. 
 
This meeting is intended to spark a productive and 
continuing exchange of ideas among us, building on the 
dialogue that has been taking place in the Security 
Council, in the General Assembly, and with the UN 
Secretariat.  I look forward to hearing your views on the 
most important ways to strengthen and improve UN 
peacekeeping on which our countries could work together at 
the United Nations. 
 
President Barack Obama 
 
End invitation. 
CLINTON