Cablegate: Unga 61: President-Elect Khalifa Lays Out Her
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RR RUEHWEB
DE RUCNDT #1790 2552109
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122109Z SEP 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0175
INFO RUEHMKA/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0060
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001790
SIPDIS
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EFIN EAID KUNR UNGA BA
SUBJECT: UNGA 61: PRESIDENT-ELECT KHALIFA LAYS OUT HER
PRIORITIES
1. (U) On September 11, Ambassadors Bolton and Wallace called
on incoming President of the General Assembly Haya al Khalifa
at the Bahraini Mission to the UN. Khalifa had, just hours
before, been ceremoniously handed the gavel by outgoing
President Eliasson in the General Assembly Hall. Bolton
assured Khalifa of the U.S.' continued support in the weeks
and months ahead. Unlike others in the GA, the U.S. "would
not get hung up on process," he told Khalifa, "but would
focus on substance," as she sought to organize the work of
the upcoming session.
2. (U) Khalifa said her top priorities were the
implementation of the recently passed development resolution
(A/RES/60/265) and securing agreement on a Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). On
development, Khalifa said she would seek to facilitate an
agreement between donor and recipient nations. On terrorism,
she argued that a way could be found to reach agreement on
the remaining differences, much as Eliasson had found common
ground to secure a resolution on the Secretary-General's
counter-terrorism strategy in the final days of the 60th
Session.
3. (U) Pressed by Ambassador Bolton to consider the
importance of the reform agenda, Khalifa noted her interest
in further revitalization of the General Assembly and the
possibility of Security Council reform. In response to a
question on mandate review, she said that "mistrust" among
Member States "poisoned the atmosphere" and led delegations
to try to keep mandates "even through the substance is
finished."
4. (U) Ambassador Bolton updated Khalifa on the Security
Council's ongoing effort to recommend a candidate for
Secretary-General to the General Assembly in sufficient time
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to allow for a successful transition. He assured Khalifa of
continuing close coordination over the coming weeks as
Council deliberations progressed.
BOLTON