INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Guidance for Unomig Renewal Discussions

Published: Wed 28 Mar 2007 11:59 PM
VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #0220 0880008
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 282359Z MAR 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0000
UNCLAS STATE 040220
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL GG RS
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR UNOMIG RENEWAL DISCUSSIONS
1. (U) This is an action request, see paras 2 and 3 below.
2. (SBU) USUN is authorized to engage on the German draft
text in para 4 below in Western Friends of Georgia
discussions in New York, and is authorized to seek and accept
the following changes to the text:
-- PP5: Insert "in Abkhazia, Georgia" between "urgently
required" and "to".
-- OP 6: Replace "noting" with "Condemn" or "Deplore".
-- OP 7: Restore language from UNSCR 1615 (particularly OPs
16, 18, and 19) and previous resolutions regarding refugees
and internally displaced persons or replace with similar
language that achieves the same goals and clarifies the right
of return to all of Abkhazia, Georgia.,
-- OP8: Insert "of the sides" after "civil society".
USUN should report results to Department and await
instructions before agreeing to any other changes from other
delegations. USUN should also inform the western Friends
that we are prepared to engage on the alternate language
offered by the Germans and Georgians and are prepared to
offer up additional/alternate language, if necessary, for use
in further negotiations of the entire Friends.
3. (SBU) Department requests USUN ask the German Mission,
as Chair of the Friends of Georgia, approach UNDPKO at the
highest appropriate level with the following objectives:
-- Express U.S. appreciation for the efforts of UNOMIG and
SRSG Arnault.
-- Encourage the Secretariat to recommend a 12-month
extension for UNOMIG in the next report, which is due at the
beginning of April, to provide stability and predictability
to the mission.
-- If asked, note that a twelve-month extension does not
preclude SRSG Arnault from requesting an increase in UNOMIG's
size before the next mandate renewal.
4. Begin draft resolution text.
The Security Council,
PP1 Recalling all its relevant resolutions including
resolution 1716 of 13 October 2006 (S/RES/1716);
PP2 Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General on the
activities of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
of 11 January 2007 (S/2007/15) and (3) April 2007;
PP3 Supporting the sustained efforts of the
Secretary-General and of his Special Representative with the
SIPDIS
assistance of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General,
including Russia in its capacity as facilitator, and of the
OSCE;
PP4 Stressing the importance of close and effective
cooperation between UNOMIG and the CIS peacekeeping force as
they currently play an important stabilizing role in the
conflict zone, and recalling that a lasting and comprehensive
settlement of the conflict will require appropriate security
guarantees;
PP5 Stressing that economic development is urgently
required to improve the livelihoods of the communities
affected by the conflict, in particular the refugees and
internally displaced persons;
1. Reaffirms the commitment of all Member States to the
sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of
Georgia within its internationally recognized borders, and
supports all efforts by the United Nations and the Group of
Friends of the Secretary-General which are guided by their
determination to promote a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz
conflict only by peaceful means and within the framework of
the Security Council resolutions;
2. Requests both sides to make full use of all
existing mechansims as described in the relevant Security
Council resolutions in order to come to a peaceful
settlement, and to comply fully with previous agreements
regarding ceasefire and non-use of violence;
3. Recalls, with a view to achieving a lasting and
comprehensive settlement, its support for the principles
contained in the on Basic Principles for the
Distribution of Competencies between Tbilisi and Sukhumi8
and calls for a constructive political dialogue under the
aegis of the United Nations on this basis;
4. Endorses the Proposals for Confidence-building Measures
presented by the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General
during the meeting held in Geneva on 12 and 13 February 2007
under participation of the Georgian and Abkhaz parties, and
urges both parties with the assistance of UNOMIG and of
international partners and the support of the Group of
Friends of the Secretary-General to immediately engage in
implementing these measures (without conditions);
5. Welcomes progress achieved by both sides towards
the implementation of resolution 1716 (2006);
6. Notes with concern the attack on villages in the Upper
Kodori valley carried out in the night of 11 and 12 March
2007;
7. Stresses the urgent need to alleviate the plight
of refugees and internally displaced persons and the need for
a perspective of life in security and dignity in particular
for the a new generation growing up outside Abkhazia,
Georgia, and, recalling the right of return for all
internally displaced persons to Abkhazia, Georgia, calls on
both sides to implement the UNHCR,s Strategic Directions for
the return in the first instance to the Gali region;
8. Welcomes existing and encourages further contacts
between representatives of civil society;
9. Underlines that it is the primary responsibility of
both sides to provide appropriate security and to ensure the
freedom of movement of UNOMIG, the CIS peacekeeping force and
other international personnel and calls on both sides to
fulfil their obligations in this regard;
10. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNOMIG to
implement the Secretary-General%s zero tolerance policy on
sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full compliance
of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct,
requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all
necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security
Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to
take appropriate preventive action including the conduct of
predeployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary
action and other action to ensure full accountability in
cases of such conduct involving their personnel;
11. Decides to extend the mandate of UNOMIG for a new
period terminating on 15 April 2008;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to make use of this
extended mandate in order to support the parties in
implementing measures to build confidence and to establish an
intensive and meaningful dialogue, and to inform the Council
in his next report on the situation in Abkhazia, Georgia, on
progress made in this respect;
13. Strongly supports the efforts of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General and calls on the
Group of Friends of the Secretary-General to continue giving
him their steadfast and unified support;
14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
End draft resolution text.
RICE
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media