VZCZCXYZ0010
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #9935 3452200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 102153Z DEC 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0000
UNCLAS STATE 129935
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC XA BY
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR DECEMBER 11 UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON
BURUNDI
1. (U) This is an action request. USUN should draw from the
points in para 2 during the UN Security Council consultations
on Burundi December 11.
2. Begin points:
I would like to thank (the UN Department of Political
Affairs) for briefing the Council on the situation in
Burundi. The US appreciates the efforts by the UN Integrated
Office of Burundi, Executive Representative for Burundi
Youssef Mahmoud, and the Peacebuilding Commission to enhance
stability and security in Burundi. I would like to make four
points.
First, we congratulate the Government of Burundi and
PALIPEHUTU-FNL on the signing of their December 4 Summit
Declaration. The committed efforts by Ugandan President
Museveni, Zambian President Banda, AU Commission President
Ping, Tanzanian Prime Minister Pinda, Rwandan Prime Minister
Makuza, Kenyan Vice President and Minister of the Interior
Msyoka, Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Tourism Dirir,
South African Minister of Transportation Radebe and UN
Secretary General Executive Representative Mahmoud, as well
as the continuing work of South African Facilitator Nqakula,
assisted in bringing the parties to this final declaration
(Note: the listed persons were all part of the closed door
session that resulted in the declaration). The declaration
paves the way for durable peace and stability for all
Burundians. We urge all parties to fully and quickly
implement the terms of the declaration in order to allow
Burundi,s government to focus its attention on solidifying
democracy and good governance, promoting economic development
and actively serving and improving the lives of Burundi,s
people.
While this peace agreement is a significant
achievement, we recognize the importance of continuing
Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Burundi. In that light, the
U.S. urges the Government of Burundi to continue its
cooperation with BINUB in enacting sector-wide security
reforms and completing the DDR process. The U.S. supports
the UN SYG,s recommendation for a new Burundi-specific
demobilization and reintegration funding mechanism following
the closing of the World Bank/Multi-country Demobilization
and Reintegration Program on December 31. We also urge the
African Union to extend the mandate of its mission in Burundi
Secondly, the U.S. is concerned about continued
violations of human rights, including the arrests and
detentions of human rights activists working with labor
organizations and in media. We are also particularly
concerned about human rights violations in regards to the
welfare of women and children. Children associated with the
PALIPEHUTU-FNL should immediately be released and reunited
with their families. Sexual violence against women and girls
remains of deep concern and the U.S. strongly urges both
UNICEF and BINUB to continuing monitoring such cases. We
also urge the Government of Burundi to arrest and vigorously
prosecute those responsible for these acts to actively fight
the notion that those responsible for such crimes act with
impunity.
Thirdly, the U.S. is pleased to recall Burundi,s
generally free and fair 2005 elections. As Burundi prepares
for national elections in 2010, we encourage the Government
of Burundi to prepare for a similarly free and fair process
and polling, conducted in a transparent manner, free from
bias. The U.S. supports the Peacebuilding Commission,s work
in assisting the country to create a conducive environment
for the holding of such elections.
Fourth, the U.S. commends the efforts of the Government
of Burundi, UNHCR and partner agencies to repatriate and
reintegrate Burundian refugees. We are particularly impressed
with progress in recent months that brings total returns to
over 93,000 in 2008 and over 460,000 since repatriation began
in 2002. The U.S. will continue to support UNHCR,s Burundi
repatriation program as well as the activities of
non-governmental organizations providing reintegration
assistance to Burundi returnees. We welcome news of other
donor support. We remain concerned with the immense
development challenges Burundi faces including issues
concerning land tenure rights that make it difficult for
returnees to restart their lives in Burundi. We encourage
the Government of Burundi to do all it can at the national
and local level to facilitate the reintegration process and
help its people build productive lives.
Finally, the U.S. commends the progress made in Burundi in
consolidating peace, and thanks the UN System in Burundi for
its efforts on this front. The U.S. supports extending
BINUB,s mandate for an additional 12-month period. The
integrated UN approach in Burundi is a helpful example for
other UN missions.
RICE