Cablegate: Unama: Guidance for September 29 Security Council

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC AF
SUBJECT: UNAMA: GUIDANCE FOR SEPTEMBER 29 SECURITY COUNCIL
BRIEFING

1. (U) This is an action request. USUN is instructed to draw
from the points in paragraph 3 below during consultations
following the quarterly UN Security Council briefing on the
UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) scheduled for
September 29, 2009.

2. (U) Objectives:

-- Acknowledge the difficulty of the Presidential elections
-- Point out that there is a process in place that is
responding to claims of fraud
-- Highlight the other important work that is UNAMA,s mission

3. (U) Begin points:

-- On behalf of the United States, let me first thank the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Kai Eide,
for his briefing today and for his leadership at the helm of
the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan during a
critical time. The United States continues to strongly
support UNAMA in its efforts to achieve the goals of Security
Council Resolution 1868. Working in concert with the
Government of Afghanistan and the international community,
UNAMA's work remains unfinished, but important strides have
been made in the last three months that merit our
consideration.

-- The ongoing Afghan electoral process has not been easy,
but we applaud the courage of Afghan voters and the
dedication of officials who have participated in polling,
tallying and adjudicating results. The United States will
continue to encourage all parties to respect the Afghan
institutions that have conducted these elections and will
determine their outcome. While there have been serious
allegations of fraud, we are pleased to see people seeking to
resolve their concerns through the formal adjudication
process and not through violence. The international
community must support the Independent Election Commission
and the Electoral Complaints Commission as they complete the
difficult work of counting ballots and investigating and
adjudicating incidents of fraud, in accordance with their
responsibilities under Afghan law. When the new Afghan
government is inaugurated, we must all quickly begin to work
with it to help build its capacity to meet the needs of the
Afghan people. Even as we approach the conclusion of this
electoral season, however, we must also begin preparations
for the 2010 parliamentary elections, which the
Secretary-General's report rightly indicates must start
immediately.

-- In addition to its critical role in elections, UNAMA is
indispensable as the coordinator of international assistance.
We will work closely with the Afghan government and with
UNAMA to ensure that aid is properly aligned with Afghan
priorities. We have already seen good progress in this area
with regard to agricultural programs, where the United States
plans to double assistance next year, in keeping with Afghan
priorities. International efforts to assist Afghanistan are
most successful when they respond to needs identified by
Afghans themselves, and the United States renews its
commitment and urges other donors to work with UNAMA to
reduce inefficiencies and ensure the appropriate and
effective delivery of aid.

-- The United States is also pleased to see progress on
UNAMA's efforts to expand its presence throughout
Afghanistan. As the Secretary-General's report indicates,
UNAMA is on track to reach a total of 17 provincial offices
by the end of this year. This expanded provincial presence,
called for in Security Council Resolution 1868, will enable
UNAMA to better monitor and coordinate aid programs on the
ground. The United States urges the UN to approve the 2010
UNAMA budget increase and all member states to support
UNAMA's outreach to the provinces by providing the personnel
and resources necessary to achieve this goal.

-- U.S. and ISAF troops continue to make significant efforts
to avoid civilian casualties, exemplified by General
McChrystal's emphasis that military operations prioritize the
protection of the civilian population. This effort, which
puts the Afghan people at the center of the mission, reflects
the reality that the large majority of civilian deaths are
caused by ruthless acts of terrorism by insurgent groups,
which operate without regard for Afghan lives. The United
States regrets any loss of innocent life during military
operations and goes to great lengths to avoid civilian
casualties. When they do occur, we provide humanitarian
assistance to affected communities and conduct thorough,
joint investigations with the Afghan government to determine
the facts.

-- The United States continues to believe that UNAMA is an
essential element of our common efforts to support the Afghan
people in their struggle to rebuild their country and defeat
a determined enemy. We will continue to support UNAMA's
critical mission, for the benefit of Afghanistan and the
peace and security of the region.

-- Thank you.
CLINTON

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