FRANCE AND AFRICANS PRESS FOR EARLY ADOPTION OF A

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002049

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC IV
SUBJECT: FRANCE AND AFRICANS PRESS FOR EARLY ADOPTION OF A
COTE D'IVOIRE RESOLUTION


1. Summary: During Security Council consultations on
October 25, France, with support from African members,
introduced a wide-ranging draft resolution on Cote d'Ivoire.
Departing from last year's practice when the Council endorsed
an AU decision to extend the transition period, this draft
resolution augments the AU decision with additional
determinations of the Council in an effort to strengthen the
powers of Prime Minister Banny. The U.S. has raised a number
of concerns with the text. France and African members appear
determined to put the resolution to vote on October 31 (next
Tuesday) even if these concerns are not all resolved. End
Summary.


2. AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Djinnit and
Ivorian Foreign Minister Bakayoko addressed the Security
Council on Cote d'Ivoire before the Council went into
consultations. Neither spoke directly to the contents of the
draft resolution, but Djinnit, in summarizing the October 17
AU PSC communiqu on Cote d'Ivoire, stressed that PSC members
attached special importance to providing the Prime Minister
with the powers and resources he needed to carry out his
mandated tasks.


3. SRSG Schori and High Representative for Elections
Stoudemann then briefed the Council in closed consultations.
Both reviewed in detail the many obstacles that have stymied
the roadmap in recent months. Both emphasized the importance
of having a credible sanctions regime. Both also recommended
Council action going beyond endorsement of the AU communiqu.



4. In introducing the draft resolution, French PermRep de La
Sabliere stated that the document was drafted in close
consultation with African members of the Security Council and
was supported by AU and ECOWAS leaders. Their common goal,
he said, was to shape a resolution that would build on the
decisions of ECOWAS and the AU to eliminate ambiguities and
provide clarity needed for Prime Minister Banny to implement
the peace process. He said that the resolution must be
adopted by October 31.


5. The African Members confirmed their active involvement and
full support for the French draft. Congo PermRep Ikouebe
said Africans were counting on the Security Council to
provide clear and precise guidance on the powers of the Prime
Minister and other key issues in order to break the deadlock
in Cote d'Ivoire. Ghana PermRep Effah-Apenteng said Council
action that avoided "creative ambiguities" was crucial.
Tanzanian Deputy PermRep Manongi likewise expressed full
backing of the French text.


6. In negotiating the draft resolution from October 25 to 27,
the U.S. raised a variety of objections to having the Council
directly micromanage governance arrangements in a sovereign
state. China and Russia supported the U.S. alternative of
endorsing the contents of the AU communique. All others,
however, appeared to favor the more wide-ranging and
intrusive French-African approach. The French and African
negotiators have shown some willingness to compromise on the
text, but also have made quite clear their belief that the
resolution must address a number of specific issues that
clarify the AU communique if the peace process is to have a
chance of success. The French have said they intend to put
the resolution to a vote on October 31.


BOLTON