Cablegate: Voting Instructions: Minurcat Renewal

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TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3184
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI IMMEDIATE 1128
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA IMMEDIATE 3893

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 101873

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPKO PREF PREL UNSC CD CT SU
SUBJECT: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: MINURCAT RENEWAL

1. (SBU) Action Request: USUN is instructed to vote in
favor of and to co-sponsor the Security Council Resolution
contained in paragraph 2 below authorizing the extension
of the United Nations Mission in the Central African
Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). USUN should seek additional
guidance if substantive changes are made to the resolution
prior to the vote. USUN is authorized to deliver the
explanation of vote contained in paragraph 3 below if
appropriate. In the event the resolution is adopted as a
Presidential text without explanation of vote from any
other country, USUN should provide the points in paragraph
3 to the press immediately following adoption of the
resolution. End Action Request.

2. (U) Begin text of draft resolution:

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its
president concerning Chad, the Central African Republic
and the subregion, including resolution 1778 (2007) and
its resolutions 1769 (2007) and 1828 (2008),

Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, unity,
territorial integrity and political independence of Chad
and the Central African Republic, and to the cause of
peace in the region,

Reiterating its concern at the humanitarian and security
repercussions in eastern Chad and the northeastern Central
African Republic of the ongoing violence in Darfur,

Deeply concerned at the activities of armed groups and
other attacks in eastern Chad, the north-eastern Central
African Republic and western Sudan which threaten the
security of the civilian population, the conduct of
humanitarian operations in those areas and the stability
of those countries, and which result in serious violations
of human rights and international humanitarian law,

Stressing that a proper settlement of the Darfur issue and
an improvement of relations between Sudan, Chad and the
Central African Republic will contribute to long term
peace and stability in the region,

Reiterating its full support for the efforts of the
Secretary-General and of the African Union, through their
joint Chief Mediator Mr Djibril Yipene Bassole, to revive
the peace process begun by the Darfur Peace Agreement,
consolidate the ceasefire and reinforce the peacekeeping
presence in Darfur,

Reaffirming that any attempt at destabilization through
violent means or seizing power by force is unacceptable,

Reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on
women, peace and security, 1502 (2003) on the protection
of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, and 1674
(2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict,

Reaffirming its resolution 1612 (2005) on children in
armed conflict, taking note of the report of the
Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Chad
S/2008/532) and the recommendations therein, and
recalling the conclusions regarding Chad adopted by its
Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict
S/AC.51/2007/16),

Recognizing that the Governments of Chad and the Central
African Republic bear primary responsibility for ensuring
the security of civilians in their territories,

Bearing in mind the Convention relating to the
Status of refugees of 28 July 1951 and its additional
protocol of 16 December 1966, along with the 1969
Convention of the Organization of African Unity governing
the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa,

Emphasizing the need to respect international
refugee law, preserve the civilian and humanitarian nature
of the refugee camps and internally displaced persons
sites and prevent any recruitment of individuals,
including children, which might be carried out in or
around the camps by armed groups,

STATE 00101873 002 OF 003

Welcoming the deployment by the European Union of
its operation in eastern Chad and Central African Republic
(EUFOR Chad/CAR), noting that the EU declared the initial
operational capacity of the operation on 15 March 2008,
and recalling that according to resolution 1778 the
mandate of EUFOR Chad/CAR therefore runs until 15 March
2009,

Welcoming the selection and training by MINURCAT
of the first group of police and gendarmerie officers of
the Detachement Integre de Securite (DIS, previously
referred to as Police Tchadienne pour la Protection
Humanitaire), and stressing the need to expedite the
deployment of the DIS,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General
S/2008/601) of 12 September 2008 and its recommendations
on the arrangements for following up EUFOR Chad/CAR at the
end of its mandate,

Determining that the situation in the region of the border
between the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic
constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

1. Decides to extend until 15 March 2009 the mandate of
the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic
and Chad (MINURCAT), as set out in resolution 1778;

2. Calls on the Secretary-General to complete MINURCAT's
deployment as soon as possible, and the Government of
Chad, with the support of MINURCAT according to its
mandate, to carry out the full deployment of the DIS
expeditiously;

3. Invites donors to continue to contribute to the
MINURCAT trust fund, established to support the DIS;

4. Expresses its intention to extend beyond the
date referred to in paragraph 1 the multidimensional
presence established in Chad and the Central African
Republic to help create the security conditions conducive
to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees
and displaced persons and, to this end, expresses its
intention to authorize the deployment of a United Nations
military component to follow up EUFOR Chad/CAR in both
Chad and the Central African Republic, taking fully into
account the recommendations contained within the
Secretary-General's report referred to in paragraph 6 and
in consultation with the Governments of these countries,

5. Requests the Secretary-General, in close
cooperation with the European Union, to continue planning
and initiate the force generation and logistical,
administrative, financial and other necessary arrangements
with a view to a transfer of authority, including in the
north-eastern Central African Republic, between EUFOR and
the UN military component referred to in paragraph 4 on 15
March 2009, subject to a new decision of the Security
Council;

6. Encourages the Governments of Chad and the
Central African Republic to continue to cooperate with the
UN and the EU to facilitate the smooth transition from
EUFOR to the United Nations military component;

7. Encourages troop contributing countries to
pledge the necessary force requirements and in particular
the helicopters, reconnaissance units, engineers,
logistics and medical facilities;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a new
report by 15 November 2008 on the progress towards the
full deployment of MINURCAT and the DIS and on updating
the planning and conducting preparations referred to in
paragraph 4 and 5, including options on the size,
structure and mandate of the proposed UN military presence
in the north-eastern Central African Republic to take over
EUFOR's presence;

9. Requests him to also continue to report
regularly, and at least every three months, on the
security and humanitarian situation, including movements
of refugees and internally displaced persons, in eastern
Chad, the north-eastern Central African Republic and the
region, on progress towards the objective of helping to
create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary,
secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced

STATE 00101873 003 OF 003

persons and on the implementation of the mandate of
MINURCAT;

10. Expresses its intention to adopt the decision
referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 by 15 December 2008;

11. Encourages the respective Governments of the
Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic to ensure
that their territories are not used to undermine the
sovereignty of others and to cooperate actively with a
view to implementing the Dakar Accord of 13 March 2008 and
previous agreements, and to cooperate with a view to
putting an end to the activities of armed groups in the
region and their attempts to seize power by force, looks
forward to the implementation of the commitment of Sudan
and Chad to restore diplomatic ties with a view to fully
normalizing their relations, and welcomes the role played
in particular by the regional Contact Group, the
Governments of Libya and the Republic of Congo as African
co-mediators, as well as the African Union and the United
Nations, including through the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General, head of MINURCAT, in support of the
Dakar process,

12. Demands that armed groups cease violence
immediately and urges all parties in Chad and the Central
African Republic, respectively, to respect and implement
the Sirte agreement of 25 October 2007 and the
comprehensive peace agreement signed in Libreville on 21
June 2008,

13. Encourages the authorities and political
stakeholders in Chad and the Central African Republic to
continue to pursue their efforts of national dialogue,
with respect for the constitutional frameworks, noting the
positive efforts by the Government of Gabon to support a
national dialogue in the Central African Republic,
emphasizes also the importance of the political agreement
for the reinforcement of the democratic process signed in
Ndjamena on 13 August 2007 and encourages the parties to
proceed with its implementation.

14. Decides to remain actively seized of the
matter.

3. (U) The United States welcomes the unanimous adoption
of resolution XXXX to extend the mandate of MINURCAT for
one year. The vote represents the Council's support and
respect for UN peacekeepers working to sustain stability
and ensure the protection of all refugees and internally
displaced persons within central Africa. It also
demonstrates the Council's continuing commitment to the
full implementation of Resolution 1778 and the achievement
of peace and security in the region.

(U) The goal of this resolution is to extend the mandate
of MINURCAT until such time as the Secretariat has
informed the Council that a UN force is fully prepared to
replace the existing EUFOR operation. It is crucial that
the mission continue in its present form until the Council
has determined that an adequately equipped and trained
security force is ready to assume the full
responsibilities of providing security in the designated
areas.

(U) We commend the continued progress that has been
achieved since the adoption of Resolution 1778 last year.
We welcome the continuing efforts of the Central African
Republic and Chad to strengthen the rule of law and
protection of refugees and internally displaced persons
within their respective borders, as well as their
demonstrated commitment, to the achievement of the
objectives of Resolution 1778.
RICE

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