Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA191
2007-01-23 16:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR COURVILLE'S MEETING WITH CORE GROUP ON
how-toVZCZCXRO5923 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN DE RUEHDS #0191/01 0231648 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 231648Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4180 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7014
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000191
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IO MOPS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR COURVILLE'S MEETING WITH CORE GROUP ON
SOMALIA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000191
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IO MOPS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR COURVILLE'S MEETING WITH CORE GROUP ON
SOMALIA
1. (U) SUMMARY. During a January 23 USAU hosted initial
meeting of Partners of the African Union (AU),
representatives
discussed how to support the AU and Troop Contributing
Countries (TCCs) to deploy to Somalia. The following
delegations were
represented: Canada, European Union Commission, France,
Germany, Italy, NATO, and the United Kingdom.
2. (U) Core Group representatives agreed that in order to
create a conducive environment for AMISOM to deploy in the
short term
that: (1) there has to be a political process in parallel
with the military deployment; (2) the current UNSC Resolution
1725 had to be revised
to authorize the deployment of an AMISOM vice IGASOM force to
Somalia and that the updated/revised UNSC Resolution 1725
make no
mention of a follow-on UN mission to allow for quick passage;
(3) that the UNDPKO send representatives to the AU
immediately to assist in planning the deployment; (4) that
the Core Support Group be inclusive vice exclusive to garner
maximum regional and international support;
(5) the delegates regroup after the AU Summit for further
discussions.
3. (U) The Core Support Group representatives agreed that
there has to be a political process in parallel with the
military deployment.
An inclusive broad based political process that allowed
participation of the business community, academics, the
Diaspora, women,s groups,
etc., would offer the basis for genuine reconciliation,
stability, and increased international support.
4. (U) The current UNSC Resolution 1725 had to be revised
to authorize the deployment of an AMISOM vice IGASOM force to
Somalia
and that the updated/revised UNSC Resolution 1725 make no
mention of a follow-on UN mission to allow for quick passage.
The German Ambassador drew on the conclusions of the
Somalia-Council of the European Union, which met on 22 JAN,
to state that the EU is ready to
consider positively the scope to provide support for AMISOM
including authorization by the UN. EU delegates were in
agreement that the updating of the UNSC Resolution 1725 would
be in agreement with Somalia-Council conclusions. All
delegates present were in general
agreement that by omitting any reference to a follow-on UN
mission to the AMISOM deployment it would allow for speedier
passage.
5. (U) It is critical to instruct UNDPKO in additional to
sending representatives to the AU for Darfur that also
immediately send planners to
assist in planning the deployment. USAU Ambassador stated
that the AU must strengthen its capacity and that there was
now a small window
of opportunity to do so. The UK Ambassador stated that the AU
needed to transfer political will into practical help. He
stressed and many of the
other EU delegates agreed, that the AU needed to prioritize
short-term requirements, provide detailed lists of needs,
determine what it will take
for 6-month self-sustainment, develop an achievable timeline
for deployment. He continued that Chairman Konare had
requested that UNDPKO come to Addis quickly to assist in the
deployment planning process. All members were in agreement
that UNDPKO immediately send representatives to the AU to
augment the planning cell and oversee the rapid deployment of
the Ugandan force to Somalia.
6. (U) Core Support Group representatives agreed that
participation/membership should be inclusive vice exclusive
to garner maximum
regional and international support. There was initial
discussion by the German Ambassador concerning membership in
the CSG. Who should belong? What were the rules of
membership? The delegates discussed the possible inclusion of
the Arab States, African countries, China and
Russia. Agreement was reached that the CSG would operate on
an open forum. If other partner/donors requested to
participate in the CSG,
they would be welcome.
7. (U) The Core Support Group delegates agreed to regroup
after the AU Summit, which concludes on 31 JAN 2007, for
further discussions.
ADDIS ABAB 00000191 002 OF 002
COMMENT: I recommend that IO/USUN draft limited revised
language for UNSC resolution 1725 that simply states that the
UN
authorizes the deployment of AMISOM. It should also be noted
that the UK expressed a willingness to explore the
possibility of
supporting Nigeria.
COURVILLE
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IO MOPS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR COURVILLE'S MEETING WITH CORE GROUP ON
SOMALIA
1. (U) SUMMARY. During a January 23 USAU hosted initial
meeting of Partners of the African Union (AU),
representatives
discussed how to support the AU and Troop Contributing
Countries (TCCs) to deploy to Somalia. The following
delegations were
represented: Canada, European Union Commission, France,
Germany, Italy, NATO, and the United Kingdom.
2. (U) Core Group representatives agreed that in order to
create a conducive environment for AMISOM to deploy in the
short term
that: (1) there has to be a political process in parallel
with the military deployment; (2) the current UNSC Resolution
1725 had to be revised
to authorize the deployment of an AMISOM vice IGASOM force to
Somalia and that the updated/revised UNSC Resolution 1725
make no
mention of a follow-on UN mission to allow for quick passage;
(3) that the UNDPKO send representatives to the AU
immediately to assist in planning the deployment; (4) that
the Core Support Group be inclusive vice exclusive to garner
maximum regional and international support;
(5) the delegates regroup after the AU Summit for further
discussions.
3. (U) The Core Support Group representatives agreed that
there has to be a political process in parallel with the
military deployment.
An inclusive broad based political process that allowed
participation of the business community, academics, the
Diaspora, women,s groups,
etc., would offer the basis for genuine reconciliation,
stability, and increased international support.
4. (U) The current UNSC Resolution 1725 had to be revised
to authorize the deployment of an AMISOM vice IGASOM force to
Somalia
and that the updated/revised UNSC Resolution 1725 make no
mention of a follow-on UN mission to allow for quick passage.
The German Ambassador drew on the conclusions of the
Somalia-Council of the European Union, which met on 22 JAN,
to state that the EU is ready to
consider positively the scope to provide support for AMISOM
including authorization by the UN. EU delegates were in
agreement that the updating of the UNSC Resolution 1725 would
be in agreement with Somalia-Council conclusions. All
delegates present were in general
agreement that by omitting any reference to a follow-on UN
mission to the AMISOM deployment it would allow for speedier
passage.
5. (U) It is critical to instruct UNDPKO in additional to
sending representatives to the AU for Darfur that also
immediately send planners to
assist in planning the deployment. USAU Ambassador stated
that the AU must strengthen its capacity and that there was
now a small window
of opportunity to do so. The UK Ambassador stated that the AU
needed to transfer political will into practical help. He
stressed and many of the
other EU delegates agreed, that the AU needed to prioritize
short-term requirements, provide detailed lists of needs,
determine what it will take
for 6-month self-sustainment, develop an achievable timeline
for deployment. He continued that Chairman Konare had
requested that UNDPKO come to Addis quickly to assist in the
deployment planning process. All members were in agreement
that UNDPKO immediately send representatives to the AU to
augment the planning cell and oversee the rapid deployment of
the Ugandan force to Somalia.
6. (U) Core Support Group representatives agreed that
participation/membership should be inclusive vice exclusive
to garner maximum
regional and international support. There was initial
discussion by the German Ambassador concerning membership in
the CSG. Who should belong? What were the rules of
membership? The delegates discussed the possible inclusion of
the Arab States, African countries, China and
Russia. Agreement was reached that the CSG would operate on
an open forum. If other partner/donors requested to
participate in the CSG,
they would be welcome.
7. (U) The Core Support Group delegates agreed to regroup
after the AU Summit, which concludes on 31 JAN 2007, for
further discussions.
ADDIS ABAB 00000191 002 OF 002
COMMENT: I recommend that IO/USUN draft limited revised
language for UNSC resolution 1725 that simply states that the
UN
authorizes the deployment of AMISOM. It should also be noted
that the UK expressed a willingness to explore the
possibility of
supporting Nigeria.
COURVILLE
YAMAMOTO