NORTHERN UGANDA: PROPOSED PRESS STATEMENT TO KEEP MOMENTUM

UNCLAS KAMPALA 001251 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL MOPS UG SU SUBJECT: NORTHERN UGANDA: PROPOSED PRESS STATEMENT TO KEEP MOMENTUM IN THE PEACE PROCESS REF: KAMPALA 1079 ¶1. (U) This is an action message. See paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) U.N. Special Envoy Chissano, the international observer team, and post concur that we consider making another public statement to keep up the momentum of the process in the wake of agreement on the general principles of accountability and reconciliation. ¶3. (SBU) Post requests that Washington approve the release, in Washington or Kampala, of a statement as proposed in paragraph 4. This draft has been approved by the GOU. Our attempts to run it by Chissano have not been successful, but he did approve the EU statement which was based on this draft. ¶4. (SBU) "The United States is pleased that the parties at the peace negotiations in Juba were able to agree on general principles on accountability and reconciliation. We continue to support the Government of Southern Sudan's mediation efforts at Juba, the efforts of the U.N. Special Envoy for LRA-Affected Areas, Joachim Chissano, and the participation of the international observers from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Congo, and South Africa to bring peace to northern Uganda. Together, they have succeeded in bringing the peace process to this important juncture. We view the consutations with key stakeholders throughout Uganda n mechanisms of accountability and reconciliatio as a critical part of the peace process. We encourage the parties to use this opportunity to engage the long-suffering people of northern Uganda in a serious dialogue on these mechanisms to provide the basis for lasting peace. Our priority remains peace in the region. We continue to provide humanitarian, recovery, and redevelopment assistance to the people living in LRA-affected areas, promote reconciliation, and support the reintegration of former abductees and ex-combatants into their communities." BROWNING