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












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