VZCZCXRO6287
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #3114 1142354
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 232348Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1479
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS STATE 043114
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL UNSC SU
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR UNMIS CONSULTATIONS
1. USUN is requested to draw on the following points for
the UN Security Council briefing and consultations on the UN
Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), scheduled for April 24.
We welcome the Secretary General's report on UNMIS. We
appreciate the efforts of UN personnel and troop contributors
to make this crucial operation work, despite the difficult
operating environment. We believe it is critical that UNMIS
succeed in its mission to help the Sudanese implement the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). We note that the CPA
ended a two decades long conflict that left two million dead
and four million displaced and we believe that the full,
rigorous, and effective implementation of the CPA is the
cornerstone for any enduring peace in Sudan. With that in
mind, I would like to make four points:
First, we urge both parties, the National Congress Party and
Sudan People's Liberation Movement, to resolve the situation
in Abyei. We are concerned about rising tensions in the area
between some Misseriya elements and the Sudan People's
Liberation Army. We welcome UNMIS' good offices and
peacekeeping activities in support of this endeavor. We urge
progress on North-South border demarcation to facilitate a
long-term solution to the crisis. And we take note of the
Secretary General's recommendation that UNMIS be authorized
SIPDIS
to provide technical assistance to the border demarcation
process.
-- We urge both parties to redeploy their troops from the
border immediately to reduce the risk of a return to violence.
Second, we welcome the conduct of the census in Sudan which
is an important milestone in the implementation of the CPA,
and urge all citizens to participate. We call on all parties
to do their utmost to ensure the comprehensive, peaceful and
safe conduct of the census. We urge the Government of Sudan
and the Government of Southern Sudan to facilitate the
orderly conduct of the census in all parts of Sudan.
-- We also look forward to the 2009 elections in Sudan, and
welcome UNMIS' assistance with elections preparation, in
consultation with the government of Sudan and in accordance
with UNMIS' mandate. We urge our international partners to
join us in the provision of election assistance.
Third, the CPA is essential to peace throughout Sudan,
including Darfur. The ongoing violence in Darfur threatens
to undermine the CPA. We call upon the Government of Sudan
to facilitate the rapid and complete deployment of UNAMID,
and to urge all parties to the conflict to participate in the
peace process in Darfur. We urge all parties, particularly
the rebel groups, to cease attacks on humanitarian convoys.
Finally, we want to emphasize the importance of UNMIS'
continued effective operations. Important positions such as
the Deputy SRSG or the Force Commander must not remain vacant
for any length of time. We support the Secretariat's efforts
to fill any vacancies promptly with the most capable leaders.
RICE