UNMIL RESOLUTION: EXPERTS MEETING

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000622 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL LI IV SUBJECT: UNMIL RESOLUTION: EXPERTS MEETING ¶1. Summary: In expert level discussions on March 28, Security Council members expressed general support for extending UNMIL's mandate for six months as proposed by the U.S. However, all members, other than the U.S., also expressed strong backing for a French amendment that would authorize an extension for three months of the transfer of 200 UNMIL peacekeepers to Abidjan. The UK and China also expressed some reservations about raising the troop ceiling beyond the Secretary-General's recommendations. USUN needs instructions on how to proceed. Experts will meet next early Wednesday afternoon. The UNMIL resolution needs to be adopted by Friday (March 31) when the mandate expires. Text of the draft under consideration is found in para 8. End Summary. ¶2. With the March 31 expiration of UNMIL's mandate looming, Security Council members at "experts"-level met today (March 28) to discuss a resolution for UNMIL's extension. All members accepted a six month extension, as proposed by the U.S. and Japan. There was general agreement on much of the language of a resolution. ¶3. Less compromising views surfaced on the matter of the UNMIL company currently deployed in Abidjan. The French proposed an amendment to authorize the extension of the 200 Nigerian troops transferred to Abidjan for an additional three months. Rejecting the U.S. position that the Nigerians should return this week to Monrovia, one expert after another supported the French amendment. (The Russian support was "in principle" and subject to confirmation from Moscow.) The bottom line, according to the French, was that the Nigerian troops (with their armored personnel carriers) provided a greater value-added benefit in Abidjan than in Monrovia. They noted that the company comprised only 1.3 percent of UNMIL peacekeepers, that its presence had helped to ensure stability in Abidjan and that its return at this time without reinforcements for UNOCI could undermine UNOCI's protection capabilities and the on-again fledgling peace process. They added that the next three months promised to be a sensitive and crucial period in Cote d'Ivoire in determining whether Ivoirian parties would move forward to disarm, distribute identification documents, and prepare for elections. The French stated that they felt strongly about this issue. ¶4. The French arguments were echoed by the UK, Denmark, Slovakia, Greece, Tanzania, Ghana and Congo. They stressed, with varying degrees of emphasis, the importance of maintaining peace in Cote d'Ivoire in order to support stability in Liberia. China and Japan added, without explanation, full support for the French amendment. ¶5. Several members, notably the UK and Tanzania, noted their preference for reinforcing UNOCI by means other than a temporary transfer. The UK suggested a lengthy extension might reduce future flexibility of transfers. Nonetheless, it supported the French argument that the presence of the Nigerian troops at this time was more important in Abidjan than in Monrovia. The UK and Ghana also observed that SRSG Doss had stated during consultations that the current UNMIL presence (i.e., without the Nigerians) was sufficient to respond to all eventualities in the near-term, including possible insecurity related to the issue of Charles Taylor. ¶6. Several delegatons, led by the UK, expressed some reservations on extending the UNMIL troop ceiling of 15,250, noting that their instructions were to support the SYG's recommendations. While other members also expressed a concern on this point, most stated that they would be flexible as long as the Nigerian company remained in Abidjan. (Comment: The inference seemed to be that the ceiling would have to be reduced to 15,000 if the UNMIL company returned from Abidjan. End Comment.) ¶7. In addition, several members urged acceptance of an additional formed police unit, as recommended by the SYG's report. (The U.S. noted our congressional notification requirement.) China, Greece, Russia and France also recommended updating UNMIL's mandate, possibly by incorporating suggestions in the SYG's report. Discussion of language relating to Charles Taylor was deferred until the next experts meeting scheduled for early afternoon Wednesday, March 29. ¶8. The current draft of the resolution (with U.S. brackets added to OP3) follows: BEGIN TEXT: The Security Council, Recalling its previous resolutions and statements by its President concerning the situations in Liberia and West Africa, in particular its resolutions 1626 of 19 September 2005 and 1638 of 11 November 2005, Welcoming the Secretary-General's report of 14 March 2006 (S/2006/159), Welcoming the inauguration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the installation of the newly-elected Liberian government, Emphasizing that significant challenges remain in completing reintegration and repatriation of ex-combatants and restructuring of the Liberian security sector, as well as maintaining stability in Liberia and the sub-region, Expressing its appreciation for the continuing support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) for the Liberian peace process, as well as for financial and other assistance provided by the international community, Renewing its expression of appreciation to Nigeria and its President, Olusegun Obansanjo, for their contributions to continuing stability in Liberia and the West African sub-region, in particular for providing for the temporary stay of former President Charles Taylor in Nigeria, Stressing that former President Taylor remains under indictment by the Special Court for Sierra Leone and expressing its hope that he will speedily face prosecution before the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Determining that the situation in Liberia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region, Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, ¶1. Decides that the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) shall be extended until 30 September 2006; ¶2. Decides to extend the provisions of paragraph 6 of resolution 1626 (2005) for the period of specified in paragraph 1 above; (3. Decides that the provisions of paragraph 1 or resolution 1657 (2006) shall be extended for a period of three months, until 30 June 2006, and expresses its intention to keep under review the tasks and the troop level of the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI),including possible additional redeployments of personnel between UNMIL and UNOCI;) ¶4. Requests the Secretary-General to review his recommendations for a drawdown plan for UNMIL in light of paragraph 2 above, and further requests that he continue to keep the Council regularly informed on UNMIL's progress with the implementation of the mandate; ¶5. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. END TEXT BOLTON