VZCZCXRO3122
OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #1158 3452140
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 102140Z DEC 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5500
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001158
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC IS SY
SUBJECT: UNSC: COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNDOF (GOLAN
HEIGHTS) MANDATE EXTENSION
1. (SBU) Summary: In Security Council consultations on
December 10, the Secretariat briefed on the activities of the
UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which supervises the
cease-fire between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights. He
referred to the Secretary-General's November 26 report to the
Council which describes the last six-month period as
"generally quiet." He said the Secretary-General considers
UNDOF's continued presence essential and Israel and Syria
both agree to the extension of the force's mandate for a
further six-months. All thirteen Council members who spoke
agreed to the extension. The Council is scheduled to adopt
the mandate extension resolution on December 19. Ambassador
Wolff proposed moving to an annual mandate renewal in June
2009, given the Council's widespread agreement on the need
for the force, the fact that three of the six troop
contributors will be on the next Council, and in line with
the force's annual GA financing. End summary.
2. (SBU) In consultations on December 10, DPKO Asia & Middle
East Division Director Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber briefed the
Council on the activities of the UN Disengagement Observer
Force (UNDOF), which supervises the cease-fire between Israel
and Syria in the Golan Heights, as required by UNSCR 1821
(June 27, 2008). Weisbrod-Weber noted that the
Secretary-General's November 26 report (e-mailed to IO/UNP)
on the 1,039-member force describes the last six-month period
as "generally quiet." He said that both sides had denied
UNDOF inspection teams access to some of their positions and
imposed restrictions on UNDOF's freedom of movement. He also
described how UNDOF had adapted its "operational posture" to
both the IDF's increased training activities and the Syrian
civilian settlement growth near the cease-fire line in the
area of separation, but stressed that neither of these
constituted violations. He said that UNDOF had some
difficulty moving supplies but hoped both sides would make
more of an effort on this issue. He noted the hazard that
old mines, given the 34-year cease-fire, pose to UNDOF
personnel.
3. (SBU) Weisbrod-Weber said that the Secretary-General
considers UNDOF's continued presence in the area essential,
and both Syria and Israel agree to the extension of UNDOF's
mandate for a further six months. At the end of the meeting,
the Secretariat circulated the draft mandate extension
resolution and draft Presidential Statement (PRST) for the
Council's consideration. Formal adoption of the UNDOF
mandate extension resolution is scheduled for December 19.
(Comment: Both the draft resolution and PRST appear identical
to the versions approved June 27, 2008, and have been
e-mailed to IO/UNP. End comment.)
4. (SBU) All thirteen Council members, including the U.S.,
who spoke during consultations voiced support for the
extension of UNDOF's mandate and many encouraged the parties
to resume their indirect talks. (Note: Only Panama and Costa
Rica did not speak. End note.) The Libyan Perm Rep welcomed
UNDOF's efforts to date but said Libya was displeased with
the ongoing occupation of the Golan and hoped a comprehensive
solution would be found. Ambassador Wolff cited the
widespread agreement in favor of the extension; the fact that
the 2009 Council will include three of the six UNDOF troop
contributors (Austria, Croatia, and Japan); and suggested
that the Council consider in June an annual mandate extension
for UNDOF, in line with its July to June financial
appropriation, vice a six-month mandate. After
consultations, Weisbrod-Weber told PolOff that DPKO would
support such a change. He noted that when such a change had
been previously attempted, Syria had resisted, preferring the
semi-annual mandate renewal process to remind the Council of
the issue. (Comment: Given the Council's monthly meetings on
the Middle East which can include the Golan and references to
Israeli-Syrian indirect talks, the Council discusses the
Golan more than semi-annually. End comment.)
Khalilzad