VZCZCXRO0878
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #4915/01 0710010
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 110005Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0913
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 0975
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 024915
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPKO PREL PGOV UNSC SU
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR 11 MARCH 2008 UN SECURITY COUNCIL
CONSULTATIONS ON UNAMID
1. PURPOSE: This is an action request. The Department asks
that USUN draw upon the following points for the United
Nations Security Council briefing and consultations on the
African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur on 11
March 2008.
--We welcome the SYG's 14 February 2008 report on the
deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid
Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). We are pleased to see some
progress in the deployment of UNAMID, but continue to be
gravely concerned over delays in its deployment. Today I
wish to discuss the security situation as well as the
deployment of UNAMID.
------------------
SECURITY SITUATION
------------------
--We share the SYG's extreme concern over the security
situation in Darfur, including the 8 February attacks on
civilians in Western Darfur that caused about 200 casualties
and an outpouring of more than 13,000 refugees who crossed
the border into Chad.
--We are gravely concerned by the possibility of a new level
of violence perpetrated by the GOS, with further brutal
attacks by the janjaweed, accompanied by more GOS bombing and
violent follow up on the ground by troops. The Security
Council must make clear that such an elevation in violence
will not be tolerated. The Council has demanded in prior
resolutions that the GOS fulfill its commitments to disarm
the janjaweed. It must stop using the janjaweed to wage war
against innocent civilians.
--An immediate cessation of hostilities remains the highest
priority. A political settlement is ultimately the only
sustainable solution to the violence in Darfur. We urge
strong efforts by the United Nations and African Union
Special Envoys Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim to advance
the political process. To that end, we look forward to the
appointment of a Joint UN-AU Chief Mediator to be based in
Sudan to support the work of the Special Envoys on a daily
basis.
--Given the cross-border attacks by the government of Chad
(GOC) and GOS, we must also urge both states to respect
existing agreements of reconciliation and non-aggression and
ensure protection for non-combatant civilians. While we
condemn Chadian incursions into Darfur in December and
January, we view the GOS' attempt in February to overthrow
the Chadian government by supporting Chadian rebels as
utterly unacceptable. The onus is on Khartoum to take the
first step of cutting off support to the rebels and
preventing the imminent threat of another attack from
Sudanese territory The US supports the mediation efforts of
the African Union and those of Presidents Wade, Bongo, and
Kabila to find a peaceful and long term solution for the
region.
--In addition, we emphasize we are closely watching the
situation between northern and southern Sudan, as a reversion
to conflict would gravely harm prospects for progress in
Darfur, as well as risk catastrophe for the rest of Sudan.
All parties must cooperate with the implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
--We also continue to condemn the 7 January attack on the
UNAMID convoy by Sudanese Armed Forces. We are waiting for
the results of the joint UNAMID-government of Sudan (GOS)
investigation to determine the cause of the attack and
identify measures to ensure that such attacks do not happen
again.
--------------------
DEPLOYMENT OF UNAMID
--------------------
--We note that fundamentally UNAMID's mandate concerns
protecting civilians: preventing attacks against them, and
protecting the humanitarian operations that strive to assist
them. UNAMID cannot yet accomplish this urgent task. We
therefore must continue to urge the UN Secretariat, troop
contributors, and the Friends of UNAMID to redouble their
efforts to ensure that UNAMID deploys fully and rapidly.
--We welcome some signs of progress in the deployment of
STATE 00024915 002 OF 002
UNAMID. We look forward to the expeditious deployment of the
main body of the Chinese Engineer Unit, the Egyptian
Engineer, Signals and Transport Units, the Nigerian Level II
hospital, and the Bangladeshi Multi-role Logistics Unit
beginning this month.
--We appreciate the SYG's support for the joint US-Canada
chaired Friends of UNAMID group, launched by our Special
Envoy to Sudan last week in New York. As U/SYG Guehenno so
aptly put it, "UNAMID needs friends." We are hopeful that
this concerted effort will bring the political, financial,
and material support together needed to successfully and
quickly deploy UNAMID. We call on the UN Secretariat and the
troop contributors to deploy 3,600 additional troops by June
1, including the Egyptian and Ethiopian infantry battalions,
and rotating former AMIS battalions at full UN strength.
--We are glad that the top leadership of the mission is now
fully deployed, but emphasize the importance of filling other
key positions, such as the Deputy Police Commissioner for
Operations, the Chief of Staff, and the Chief of Public
Information. We urge productive consultation between the AU
and UN to fill these posts as soon as possible, as excellent
staffing is critical.
--We are concerned by the effects of delays in the deployment
of UNAMID military and police on UNAMID's ability to patrol.
We appreciate the patrols UNAMID troops and police have been
able to provide, including firewood patrols and patrols in
the more volatile camps. We strongly look forward to future
24-hour patrols. We urge proactive, extensive patrolling as
critical to the core of the mandate: protection of civilians.
--We urge that all procedures between troop contributing
countries (TCCs) and the UN Department of Peacekeeping
Operations be accelerated. For example, TCCs must provide
load lists as expeditiously as possible. All logistical and
administrative issues must be worked out not only between
DPKO and TCCs, but also within UNAMID, including in the
creation of necessary camp infrastructure for future
deployments.
--The GOS must fully cooperate: All land issues must be
resolved. Customs clearance and visa issuance must take
place in a timely manner. All TCCs must be accepted. UNAMID
has a predominantly African character, so there is no
justifiable basis for hindering the deployment of non-African
troops.
--We are pleased that the Status of Forces Agreement was
signed, but are looking to see that the GOS fully respects it.
--We remain concerned about force generation issues: the
lack of helicopters, heavy transport units, and multi-role
logistics unit. We also are concerned by a lack of standards
governing formed police units (FPUs) and the absence of donor
support to ensure their safe deployment. We urge member
states to help fill these gaps.
2. POINT-OF-CONTACT: Grace M. Kang, IO/PSC, 202-736-7735.
RICE