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RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AF HA CY SU YM
SUBJECT: SYG BAN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON RECENT TRAVELS 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR SUSAN E. RICE FOR REASONS 1.4( 
B) AND (D) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Secretary-General (SYG) Ban briefed the 
Council in closed consultations on February 3, reviewing his 
travel to the January 28 conference on Afghanistan in London, 
to Cyprus, and to the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, and an update 
on Haiti.  Ban's overview of the London Conference on 
Afghanistan was positive, noting the agreement in London on 
UNAMA's preeminent role in relation to civilian coordination 
and welcoming the decision by the NATO Secretary General to 
appoint Mark Sedwill to the ISAF coordination role.  Ban 
apologized for the high UNAMA vacancy rates, explaining that 
he has recently taken extraordinary measures to fast-track 
hiring.   At the AU Summit and side meeting on Sudan in Addis 
Ababa, Ban underscored the importance of self determination 
for the people of Southern Sudan, with elections just three 
months away and two referenda in the next year.  He clarified 
that despite "mis-quotes" in recent press reports, the UN is 
not prejudging the referenda outcomes.  On Haiti, the SYG 
praised the daily improvement of the aid distribution system, 
adding that food assistance was reaching nearly one million 
Haitians; however, he emphasized the urgent need for shelter 
as the hurricane season approaches and stressed the need for 
general, long-term engagement.   Ambassador Rice outlined 
U.S. efforts and emphasized U.S. coordination with MINUSTAH 
and the Government of Haiti.  Rice also welcomed the SYG's 
announcement of Clinton's new role.  Ban discussed his first 
trip to Cyprus and believes a solution is "within reach" if 
leaders have "courage, compromise and commitment."  The last 
topic of Ban's tour-d'horizon was a brief mention that 
Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe will lead a UN delegation 
to the DPRK, seeking to re-establish a high-level political 
dialogue between the UN and the DPRK.  The U.S., Japan, and 
France emphasized there can be no pre-conditions from the 
DPRK prior to coming back to the six-party talks.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2. (U) SYG Ban briefed the Council in closed consultations on 
February 3.  He reviewed his recent travels, including to the 
January 28 conference on Afghanistan in London, to Cyprus, 
and to the AU Summit in Addis Ababa.  At our request, he also 
provided an update on Haiti.  Following Ban's briefing, all 
Council members made brief comments and asked the SYG 
follow-up questions. 
 
 
AFGHANISTAN 
----------- 
¶3. (SBU) SYG Ban stated that the London Conference on 
Afghanistan "achieved its goal", renewing commitments on 
issues related to security, development and governance, and 
regional cooperation.  Ban highlighted Karzai's pledge that 
the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will assume the 
lead for security within the coming years on a 
province-by-province basis.  He also welcomed the Government 
of Afghanistan's commitment to take on increasing financial 
responsibility, supported by a fifty percent increase in 
donors' development aid in the next two years, as announced 
in the London Conference Communiqu.  Ban noted the agreement 
in London on UNAMA's preeminent role in relation to civilian 
coordination and welcomed the decision by the NATO Secretary 
General to appoint Mark Sedwill to the ISAF coordination 
role.  Ban highlighted the Afghan-led reintegration process 
and the international community's commitment to establish a 
Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund, noting that a political 
process for the reintegration of Taliban at all levels is 
needed.  Ban apologized for the high UNAMA vacancy rates, 
explaining that he has recently taken extraordinary measures 
to fast-track hiring.  As an aside, he asked the Council how 
the UN human resource process can be streamlined for the 
future, for all UN missions world-wide.  Lastly, Ban noted 
the Afghan Government's decision to delay elections until 
September 18, stating his next UNAMA report would discuss the 
implications and related issues in detail.  Ban briefly 
mentioned the talks on Yemen which took place in London the 
evening before the Afghanistan Conference.  He noted that 
issues of economic development and terrorism were discussed 
and that a formal Group of Friends of Yemen was created. 
 
¶4. (C)  During Council member interventions the United 
Kingdom asked for Council support of a press statement on the 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000071  002 OF 003 
 
 
London Conference outcomes.  Most members welcomed the London 
Conference, with some referencing the future Kabul 
Conference.  The U.S. and China welcomed SYG Ban's recent 
announcement appointing Staffan De Mistura as SRSG Eide's 
successor.  The U.S. and France both noted with concern the 
high UNAMA vacancy rates, asking for continued focus on 
hiring and in finalizing the decision on how best to accept 
international experts from top donor countries to coordinate 
assistance under the UNAMA umbrella.  Similarly, the UK 
sought further information from the SYG regarding decisions 
related to UNAMA civilian coordination modalities and China 
asked how coordination between ISAF and UNAMA could be 
improved.  The Austrian PermRep, in his role as chair of the 
1267 Committee, noted he would be as supportive as possible 
in moving future delisting discussions along in the 
Committee.  The Russian PermRep stated that while he 
"considers it positive to delist as many possible (from the 
1267 list) as long as they relinquish arms, accept the Afghan 
constitution, cease all support and ties to Al Qaeda or other 
terrorist organizations, and cease all terrorist activities", 
but he underscored that there is no possibility of 
rehabilitation of "top" leaders.  The Russian PermRep 
admonished Ban, instructing the UN to inform the Afghan 
Government and Security Council of future UN contacts with 
Taliban leaders, rather than having them learn of such 
contact via press reports. 
 
 
AU SUMMIT IN ADDIS ABABA 
------------------------ 
¶5. (SBU) SYG Ban attended the recent AU Summit in Addis 
Ababa.  On Somalia, he discussed the need to transition the 
African Union Mission  in Somalia (AMISOM), which he 
characterized as underfunded.  Ban underscored the importance 
of self determination for the people of Southern Sudan, with 
elections three months away and two referenda in the next 
year.  Ban clarified that despite "mis-quotes" in recent 
press reports, the UN is not prejudging the referenda 
outcomes. He said the UN intends to pursue a four-track 
strategy:  to forge consensus among member states on the way 
forward; to continue to strengthen the UN presence on the 
ground; to promote discussion on key post-referendum issues; 
and, to build capacity of South Sudanese institutions.  Ban 
also mentioned that the Millennium Development Goals and 
climate change issues are deeply related to future peace and 
security on the African continent. 
 
¶6. (C) Council member interventions on Sudan were mixed.  The 
U.S., France, Austria, Japan and Nigeria highlighted the need 
for the Council to actively engage in contingency planning 
for possible referenda outcomes.  On the opposite end of the 
spectrum, Russia forcefully noted that the "unity of Sudan is 
paramount" and that the Council should focus on a "single 
Sudan."  Brazil inquired about the role of the high level 
panel, and Lebanon noted that success in Sudan is critical 
for UN credibility in Africa and highlighted the importance 
of continued UN-AU cooperation. 
 
 
HAITI 
----- 
¶7. (SBU) On Haiti, the SYG praised the daily improvement of 
the aid distribution system, adding that food assistance was 
reaching nearly one million Haitians.  He thanked the Council 
for endorsing his recommendation to increase MINUSTAH by an 
additional 3,500 peacekeepers.  However, Ban emphasized the 
urgent need for shelter as the hurricane season approaches 
and stressed the need for general, long-term engagement.  Ban 
said that Haitian PM Bellerive identified key elements for 
rebuilding Haiti, including "less centralized development," a 
greater agricultural capacity and better investor relations. 
On the last point, Ban said that Special Envoy Clinton agreed 
to assume a leadership role over international assistance 
efforts in addition to mobilizing the private sector, civil 
society and international donors to "build back better."  The 
UN and Special Envoy Clinton will hold an additional flash 
appeal on February 17.  (Note:  The current flash appeal is 
funded at USD 575 million, which represents over 80 percent 
of the appeal.  End Note.)  The SYG said the UN was gearing 
up for the upcoming donor conference -- to be co-hosted by 
the U.S. and the UN at UNHQ.  He commented that Haitian 
President Preval preferred mid-April for the conference and 
commented that this would be a "reasonable date" to allow the 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000071  003 OF 003 
 
 
UN to generate a comprehensive needs assessment.  Ban 
stressed the importance of coordination and added that major 
donors continue to coordinate closely. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Council members praised SYG Ban's leadership on 
Haiti and many also expressed appreciation for international 
assistance efforts.  Ambassador Rice outlined U.S. efforts 
and emphasized U.S. coordination with MINUSTAH and the 
Government of Haiti.  Rice also welcomed the SYG's 
announcement of Clinton's new role.  Brazil agreed with Ban 
on the progress made in the country but suggested that the 
challenge will be to rebuild Haiti while being mindful of its 
sovereignty and aware of the urgent need for socio-economic 
development and "human rights for all."  Mexico and France 
sought more clarity on the content and preparations for the 
donor conference.  France proposed that the UN provide a 
briefing to the Council on the conference as well as general 
recovery efforts. 
 
 
CYPRUS 
------ 
¶9. (SBU) SYG Ban discussed his first trip to Cyprus, which 
occurred on February 1 and was timed to help build momentum 
for progress in advance of the "presidential" election in 
April on the Turkish Cypriot side.  Ban stated that all sides 
are looking for a "solution now" and that the leaders seek 
continued progress on power sharing, governance, EU matters, 
and other issues.  Ban called the "chemistry" between the 
leaders good, and urged "faster, farther" talks.  Ban stated 
he believes a solution is "within reach" if leaders have 
"courage, compromise and commitment."  He promised that 
Special Advisor Alexander Downer will work to keep up the 
momentum of the Cypriot-led process. 
 
¶10. (C) Council member interventions regarding Cyprus were 
fairly limited, with most members welcoming SYG Ban's visit 
and continued UN support for the negotiation process. 
Austria stated that the current status quo in Cyprus is "not 
acceptable."  Russia grumbled that SYG Ban's suggestion of 
"faster, farther" talks is a slogan better fit for sports and 
suggested that the UN should instead follow the hippocratic 
oath of "do no harm."  Lebanon highlighted the need for the 
negotiation process to remain "Cypriot-owned" but hoped that 
the UN would be able to help sustain the current positive 
momentum of the negotiations. 
 
 
DPRK 
---- 
¶11. (SBU) The last topic of Ban's tour-d'horizon was a brief 
mention that Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe will lead a 
UN delegation to the DPRK, seeking to re-establish a 
high-level political dialogue between the UN and the DPRK. 
Ban reported that this trip follows one and a half years of 
discussion, with the last UN official visit having occurred 
in 2004.  Ban noted that he welcomes comments and advice from 
all Council members in relation to this upcoming trip. 
 
12 (SBU) Council member comments on Pascoe's upcoming trip to 
the DPRK were brief, with China welcoming the visit.  The 
U.S., Japan, and France emphasized there can be no 
pre-conditions from the DPRK prior to coming back to the 
six-party talks.  Japan and France further noted that there 
can be no compensation to the DPRK until denuclearization 
measures are taken.  France requested that Pascoe brief the 
Council upon his return from the DPRK. 
 
 
RICE