US embassy cable - 05GENEVA1606

UNCLAS GENEVA 001606 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PRM/MCE, SS EXEC OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: RECEIPT OF LETTER FROM UNHCR HIGH COMMISSIONER 
ANTONIO GUTERRES ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
CONDOLEZZA RICE 
 
 
 1.  (U) Mission has received the following letter addressed 
to the Secretary of State Condolezza Rice. 
 
Begin Text. 
 
Madam, 
 
As I take up my duties as High Commissioner, I wish to avail 
myself of this opportunity to thank you for your support for 
the work of UNHCR.  It is an honour for me to serve these 
vulnerable people and the international community in this 
way, and I will do all I can to earn your continued support 
for the Office. 
 
During the past month, I have had the opportunity to read a 
great deal and speak at length to UNHCR's senior managers, 
representative in the field, and to many others who know the 
organization well.  This time has proved very instructive and 
has helped to shape my thinking as I begin work and survey 
the priorities of the next few months. 
 
During the past few years, a great deal of work has been done 
by UNHCR to adapt itself and its activities to the changing 
external environment.  My focus initially will be on the 
prioritization and implementation of these many well-founded 
initiatives.  These relate to our fundamental responsibility 
to provide protection and to the perceived separation between 
protection and operations.  They also include steps to ensure 
the transparency and accountability of the organization, 
which is crucial to our future.  I believe also that 
increased consultation with all actors in necessary for UNHCR 
to meet the highest standards of performance in our 
operations worldwide. 
 
In all these areas, your support and collaboration is 
essential.  The success of our mission depends on you, both 
as donors and active defenders of the principles UNHCR is 
mandated to uphold. 
 
Assuming office halfway through the year, I have both a good 
sense of our current financial situation for this year and 
the unenviable responsibility to recall our pressing needs 
worldwide. 
 
I am aware that most of UNHCR's funding comes from a limited 
number of donors.  My funding strategy will be two-fold: 
maintaining an open and fluid discussion with our traditional 
donors to strengthen partnerships with them and approaching 
"non-traditional" donors to continue broadening our funding 
base.  I look forward to discussing this and other issues of 
mutual interest with you during my mission to Washington next 
week. 
 
I warmly welcome the donor-led Good Humanitarian Donorship 
initiative as an effort to respond to humanitarian needs. 
From my side, I will do the utmost to ensure that UNHCR can 
deliver its support as and when required, indeed in 
collaboration with all parties. 
 
Allow me to close by reaffirming my personal commitment to 
the cause of refugees.  I am honoured by the trust that the 
Secretary-General and you have placed in me, and I wish to 
 
SIPDIS 
assure you that you can count on my full commitment to this 
organization and to its great humanitarian cause. 
 
Please accept, Madam, the assurances of my highest 
consideration. 
 
(handwritten) looking forward to our close cooperation). 
 
 
Sincerely yours, 
 
Antonio Guterres 
 
2.  (U) Mission will pouch the original letter under registry 
number 6131639 
Moley