UN SYG REQUEST FOR AMIS SUPPORT

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002050 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO, AF, PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC SU KPKO SUBJECT: UN SYG REQUEST FOR AMIS SUPPORT ¶1. (U) Please find below the text of a letter from UN SYG Kofi Annan requesting USG material and financial assistance for the AMIS support package. The UN SYG has approached other delegations, including the EU, with similar requests. DPKO has promised to convene a meeting before November 3 to update interested delegations on the status of support for AMIS. ¶2. (U) Begin Text: Excellency, As you are aware, on 20 September 2006, the African Union Peace and Security Council extended the mandate of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) until 31 December 2006. In light of the Government of Sudan's continued position with respect to a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur, the decision to extend the AMIS mandate is a very important step in the African Union and wider international community's efforts to expeditiously bring peace and stability to the region. In order to assist AMIS in fully and effectively implementing its crucial tasks in Darfur, the Security Council recently requested the United Nations to provide urgent support to AMIS. To this end, the African Union Chairperson, Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare and I have agreed on the contents of an immediate support package that the United Nations would provide to AMIS, which was conveyed to President Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir in a letter dated 22 September 2006. The United Nations support could strengthen AMIS ability to assist in carrying out the Darfur Peace Agreement and provide protection for civilians in the region. However, these steps, if allowed to be implemented by the Government of Sudan, will not be sufficient. AMIS partners and supporters are expected to make an immediate and concerted effort in supporting the African Union in bringing peace to this long suffering region. I hope that your Government will be in a position to consider providing AMIS with urgent additional material and financial assistance in order to enable it to carry out its mandate in the most effective manner. I wish to inform you that I have shared the contents of this letter with Mr. Konare. The latter may wish to contact you for any practical discussion in this regard. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Signed Kofi A. Annan Her Excellency Ms. Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State SIPDIS of the United States of America Washington, D.C. ¶3. End Text. BOLTON