VZCZCXRO7437
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #7462/01 0252201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 252154Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9615
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 007462
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC SU
SUBJECT: UN MISSION IN SUDAN: TALKING POINTS FOR
CONSULTATIONS
1. This is an action request. USUN may draw from the
points in paragraph 2 during consultations before the
Security Council on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) scheduled
for January 26, 2010.
2. I would like to thank Under Secretary-General Le Roy for
his briefing today. Sudan is now entering a critical period
) one which will determine its future. We must continue to
urge the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
to keep the focus on the remaining implementation tasks, and
to begin planning for the post-referendum period, regardless
of outcome. Today, I would like to address key elements for
the future of UNMIS: the April 2010 elections and 2011
referenda, and the increasingly fragile security situation in
southern Sudan.
--The United States views elections in Sudan as critical in
the peace process. We remain concerned that voters
throughout Sudan be free to exercise their political rights
without intimidation and fear of reprisals. Voter
registration was largely peaceful, and we hope this indicates
that elections can also be conducted peacefully.
Unfortunately, the December 7 arrest of key opposition
figures gathered for a peaceful demonstration, and the
ensuing violence, illustrates the tenuous nature of
maintaining security during elections, and how quickly
security can deteriorate. We encourage UNMIS to continue
working with Sudanese election authorities and security
officials to ensure voters can freely exercise their vote,
and we urge Sudanese election authorities to implement a plan
that would allow observers to witness all aspects of the
electoral process.
--We acknowledge the recent positive accomplishments in CPA
implementation: legislation governing the referenda in the
South and Abyei was passed, as well as the law concerning
popular consultations in the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan
states. These are significant developments; however, hard
tasks lie ahead, including the appointment of referendum
commissioners, resolving the dispute over census results,
agreement on eligible voters in Abyei, and suspension of laws
that infringe on civil liberties in the run-up to elections.
While we are pleased UNMIS has started recruiting a team to
assist the parties with referendum planning, this planning is
already behind and must begin immediately. UNMIS assistance
to the parties is critical to ensure that adequate
preparations are made for the 2011 referenda, and we would
like to see greater detail and action plans describing the
preparations in upcoming reports. The Council also needs to
begin focusing on the nature of the UN presence in Sudan
during the post-referendum period. We would like to know if
the Secretariat has begun to consider this issue, and would
welcome receiving the Under-Secretary General,s
recommendations.
--While we acknowledge the recent CPA successes, we remain
concerned about other aspects of implementation. We are
particularly troubled by the lack of progress in implementing
the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on
Abyei, especially the reports that armed tribal groups have
prevented border demarcation. Tensions in the area are
rising as communities have been unable to cross into and
beyond Abyei this migration season, and the issue of voter
eligibility in the Abyei referendum remains unresolved and
left to the Abyei Referendum Commission. These factors
signal that Abyei remains a potential flashpoint for
violence, and we urge UNMIS to assist the parties where
possible in implementing the PCA decision and to closely
monitor the situation.
--The United States continues to be deeply disturbed by the
escalating and pervasive violence in southern Sudan. Armed
tribal conflicts and criminal activity continues to produce
violence in the south. We acknowledge that southern Sudan
security forces are responsible for establishing security,
but UNMIS must play a critical role in the protection of
vulnerable civilians. We also believe that UNMIS, utilizing
its authority under its Chapter VII mandate, should continue
to develop and implement coordinated civilian protection
strategies. Given the potential for increased violence in
the next 12 months due to the elections and referenda, and
the current violence caused by ethnic conflict, we would like
to know when UNMIS will complete development of its
mission-wide civilian protection strategy. We urge UNMIS to
complete this strategy for the protection of civilians and
share the key aspects of the strategy with the Council.
STATE 00007462 002 OF 002
--While some progress toward implementation of the CPA has
occurred, much remains to be done. The citizens of Sudan
must have a secure environment that will enable them to
freely exercise their right to vote. Planning must also
begin now for the 2011 referenda, and parties must begin to
address and resolve difficult post-referenda issues. Action
must also be taken to address the growing violence and
insecurity in the south. We must all work together to help
Sudan secure a future of peace and prosperity for its
citizens.
--Thank you.
CLINTON