US embassy cable - 92USUNNEWYORK5825

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 005825 
 
 
E.O. 12356:DECL:OADR 
TAGS: PREL, UNSC, MOPS, PHUM, SO 
SUBJECT:  TFSOOL - UN WOULD LIKE TO CONSULT WITH US ON 
TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS TO "OPERATION RESTORE HOPE" 
 
1.  CONFIDENTIAL: ENTIRE TEXT 
 
2.  SUMMARY: IN DECEMBER 7 MEETINGS WITH AMBASSADOR 
PERKINS, THE SYG AND USG GOULDING ASKED THE US TO 
CONSULT WITH THE UN ON TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE MAKING 
FINAL DECISIONS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
3.  IN SUCCESSIVE MEETINGS DECEMBER 7 BOUTROS GHALI AND 
USG GOULDING URGED US CONSULTATION WITH THE UN PRIOR TO 
FINALIZING DECISIONS FOR TROOP CONTRIBUTORS TO 
"OPERATION RESTORE HOPE".  B-G EXPLAINED THAT WHILE THE 
UN HAD NO DESIRE TO SECOND GUESS US JUDGMENTS, THE UN 
HAD BOTH SYMBOLIC AND SUBSTANTIVE CONCERNS TO CONSIDER. 
 
4.  FIRST, THE UN WANTED TO AVOID THE IMPRESSION THAT IT 
WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LOOP ON A UN AUTHORIZED 
OPERATION, SO SOME KIND OF VISIBLE LINK WOULD REINFORCE 
THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION.  SECONDLY, IT WAS LIKELY 
THAT SOME UNIFIED COMMAND CONTINGENTS WOULD BE ASKED TO 
STAY ON FOR SERVICE IN A REVIVED UNOSOM.  THE UN WANTS 
TO BE SURE THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE UNITS CHOSEN WOULD 
BE SUITABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE 
TO OFFER ITS THOUGHTS TO THE US BEFORE OUR DECISIONS ARE 
A FAIT ACCOMPLI.  FROM THE UN'S PERSPECTIVE, B-G 
LAMENTED, A FURTHER FACTOR WAS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE 
US APPEAL FOR PARTICIPATION IN "OPERATION RESTORE HOPE" 
WOULD SIPHON OFF TROOP CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOULD 
OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE LARGE UPCOMING 
MOZAMBIQUE OPERATION AS WELL AS THE OBSERVER MISSIONS IN 
ANGOLA AND SOUTH AFRICA. 
 
5.  AMBASSADOR PERKINS SAID THAT A CONSTANT PUBLIC 
IMPRESSION OF "HONEST COLLABORATION" WAS IMPORTANT TO 
MAINTAIN.  THE PROPOSED CONSULTATION WOULD BE DESIRABLE 
FOR BOTH SIDES AND COULD OCCUR VIA REGULAR MEETINGS 
BETWEEN THE UN AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JOINT 
CHIEFS.  THESE COULD ALSO PROVIDE THE CONTENT FOR 
REGULAR REPORTS BY THE SYG TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  IN 
A MEETING WITH USG GOULDING AND PERKINS LATER IN THE 
DAY, JCS REP ARNOLD AGREED TO TRY TO ARRANGE FOR A FULL 
UPDATE ON TROOP CONTRIBUTION OFFERS DECEMBER 9, WHEN 
ADMIRAL BOWMAN AND AMBASSADOR GROVE WILL VISIT UN 
HEADQUARTERS FOR CONSULTATIONS. 
 
 
PERKINS