Cablegate: Disbursing Pledges for the Un Protection Force In

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

121538Z Nov 04

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 001445

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/RSAT, EUR/RPM, AND EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2014
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ FI
SUBJECT: DISBURSING PLEDGES FOR THE UN PROTECTION FORCE IN
IRAQ

REF: STATE 240281

Classified By: Ambassador Earle I. Mack for Reasons 1.4(B) and (D)

1. (C) POL Chief delivered reftel demarche November 10 to
Elina Kalkku, Director of the Finnish MFA's Security Policy
Unit. Drawing on reftel talking points, he noted that
deployment of a Georgian battalion to Iraq for "middle ring"
security is imminent, with a Romanian unit likely to follow
soon after, but that both deployments are contingent upon the
salary support promised by Finland and other EU states. POL
Chief said that the UN Comptroller and Legal Advisor
apparently are opposed to establishing a UN trust fund to
disburse these funds, and urged that the GoF consider
disbursing the funds bilaterally, or via a multilateral
account set up by the EC or a donor country.

2. (C) Kalkku said that according to her understanding, the
possibility of a UN trust fund was still a live issue. The
Finnish mission to the United Nations has reported that the
Asia division of the Secretariat strongly supports the
creation of such a fund, and therefore a split-recommendation
memo was likely to go forward to the UNSYG for his decision.

3. (C) Kalkku -- stressing that this was a preliminary
reaction -- said that if the SYG decided against a UN trust
fund, the Finns probably could not disburse the money
bilaterally in the current calendar year, because it has been
obligated under the GoF budget chapter for multilateral
assistance. In calendar year 2005, it might be possible to
reprogram the money to a bilateral chapter -- but the Finns
would much prefer a multilateral fund, rather than having to
set up and operate a fund on a national basis. POL Chief
recommended that the GoF make clear in New York their
preference for a UN trust fund.

4. (C) Kalkku asked whether the Georgian deployment is likely
to take place before the end of the year. Embassy would
appreciate Department's assistance in answering this question.
MACK

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