LESOTHO'S POSITION: REHATTING AMIS REQUEST WITH THE AU

UNCLAS MASERU 000006 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL SU KPKO LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO'S POSITION: REHATTING AMIS REQUEST WITH THE AU REF: STATE 1351 ¶1. (U) Ambassador engaged GOL Minister of Foreign Affairs January 6 on issue of rehatting the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). We acknowledged the positive role AMIS has played and emphasized the importance of raising its rehatting during the January 12 meeting of the Peace and Security Council. ¶2. (SBU) Minister Moleleki agreed that strengthening the AU's role would be important in stabilizing the situation in Sudan. In addition to viewing a UN operation as potentially more effective, the Minister supported the proposal to have NATO personnel assigned. ¶3. (SBU) We raised our interest in seeking an African commander for the force and also drew attention to the fact that planning now for rehatting was important given the time it would take to operationalize the plan. Moleleki understood that point and instructed his acting Principal Secretary to contact Lesotho's AU envoy resident in Addis to bring the issue forward during the PSC session. PERRY