VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #5565 0510130
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 200127Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9919
INFO RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH IMMEDIATE 0895

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 015565 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KJUS KTIA CB
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: U.S. CANDIDATE FOR UN SPECIAL 
EXPERT FOR THE KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL 
 
REF: 09 STATE 106946 
 
Classified By: A/S Esther Brimmer for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) This is an Action Request: see para 3. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Department appreciates USUN's ongoing engagement 
with UN/OLA and the Steering Committee for the Extraordinary 
Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia aka the Khmer Rouge 
Tribunal (ECCC).  Department notes that UN/OLA has requested 
donor input regarding the proposed appointment of a Special 
Expert to advise on the high-level aspects of the challenges 
facing the ECCC. 
 
¶3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Department requests that USUN offer 
the name of Clint Williamson for the Special Expert position. 
 We believe that Mr. Williamson is the best candidate for 
this position based on his extensive work with the ECCC and 
high level Cambodian government officials in his previous 
position as U.S. Ambassador for War Crimes Issues.  USUN can 
draw on the following points when speaking with relevant UN 
officials and donor country representatives regarding Mr. 
Williamson's candidacy.  Embassy Phnom Penh is authorized to 
draw from the same points in conversation with UN 
representatives and representatives of other donor states: 
 
-     Reiterate US support for the work of the ECCC to hold 
senior Khmer Rouge leaders accountable for crimes committed 
under their Regime.  Welcome the efforts of UN/OLA and the 
donor countries to address ongoing issues at the ECCC, 
including consideration of the budget, staffing needs, and 
strengthening court management. 
 
-     Note our extensive, ongoing engagement on the issue of 
improving management and eliminating corruption at the ECCC. 
Reiterate our support for the agreement between the UN and 
the Cambodian government to establish an Independent 
Counselor to improve court management and investigate future 
allegations of corruption and other misconduct. 
 
-     Note the number of issues that remain outstanding at 
the ECCC, including ongoing issues related to cases 2 and 3, 
budgetary and staffing needs, and the need to support the 
functioning of the Independent Counselor position.  Express 
our support for the creation of the Special Expert position 
to advise the UN on ways to resolve ongoing issues and 
support the court's work. 
 
-     Explain that the US is offering the name of Clint 
Williamson as a candidate for the Special Expert position. 
Note Mr. Williamson's exceptional qualifications based on his 
previous work with the ECCC and senior Cambodian government 
officials as U.S. Ambassador for War Crimes Issues.  Mr. 
Williamson has extensive knowledge of the issues facing the 
court, and was intimately involved in the negotiations that 
led to the establishment of the Independent Counselor.  In 
addition, Mr. Williamson is viewed as a dispassionate and 
credible interlocutor by all of the parties that work on the 
court, including representatives of the UN, officials of the 
Royal Cambodian government, and members of the donor 
community. 
 
¶4. (C) BACKGROUND:  Four years after its creation, the ECCC 
is closer than ever to fulfilling its mandate to hold 
accountable senior leaders and those most responsible for 
crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime.  The court 
held its first trial in 2009 and is preparing to try four 
additional suspects later this year.  The court has also made 
considerable progress on strengthening management systems and 
eliminating corruption.  Notably, there have been no 
allegations of corruption within the court administration 
since the removal of Cambodian Chief of Administration Sean 
Visoth in December 2008. 
 
¶5. (C) UN/OLA recommended the creation of the Special Expert 
position in order to maintain forward momentum on these and 
other issues at the court. Cambodian government officials 
involved with the ECCC have privately voiced their support 
for Williamson's appointment to the position. 
 
¶6. (C) Department notes that the USG previously pledged to 
provide financial support, subject to the availability and 
appropriation of funds by the U.S. Congress,  for a Special 
Advisor on Tribunals in OLA to address pressing issues at the 
Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the 
Special Tribunal for Lebanon. (REF). However, the terms of 
reference for the Special Expert position currently being 
proposed are different, refocusing the position solely on the 
ECCC. 
CLINTON