BONUCA- INSTRUCTION CABLE ON DECEMBER 11

UNCLAS STATE 165821

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PREF PHUM PBTS XZ ZF CT
SUBJECT: BONUCA- INSTRUCTION CABLE ON DECEMBER 11
CONSULTATIONS ON BONUCA



1. This is an action cable. See paragraph 2.


2. USUN is instructed to draw from the following talking
points for their December 11 consultations on BONUCA.

Begin text:

-- The United States is hopeful about the establishment of a
25-member Preparatory Committee to promote greater national
cohesion and reconciliation. We encourage all political
parties and armed groups to put aside their differences and
to work towards a future of peace, stability, and economic
prosperity.

-- We commend President Boziz, for reaching out to rebel
forces and other armed groups to urge them to join in the
political dialogue. We are pleased that the Popular Army for
the Restoration of the Democracy (APRD) has agreed to lay
down their arms and engage in peace talks with the
government. We encourage all rebel forces and other armed
groups to take advantage of this historic opportunity to
return peace to the country. We applaud the efforts of the
SRSG Francois Fall, BONUCA, and the Center for Humanitarian
Dialogue to facilitate negotiations among national
stakeholders.

-- The United States remains concerned about the volatile
security situation in the country, especially outside of the
capital, but we are pleased that joint patrols by the Union
of Democratic Forces (UFDR) and the Central African Armed
Forces (FACA) has helped provide greater stability to the
northeastern part of the country. We hope this effort can be
replicated in other parts of the country.

-- The United States notes the extension of the FOMUC mandate
in July and supports the efforts by the EU, AU, and the
Council of Europe to strengthen the mandate of the
sub-regional force.

-- The United States commends the efforts by the UN
Department of Political Affairs and CEMAC to support greater
trans-border security between CAR, Cameroon and Chad.

-- We support the European Security Defense Policy-UN
MINURCAT peacekeeping operation that will soon deploy to
eastern Chad and northeastern CAR to protect refugees and
IDPs in the area. We urge the governments of Chad and CAR to
cooperate fully with MINURCAT contributors so the force can
deploy immediately. We believe that besides providing
protection to Sudanese refugees, Chadian, and CAR displaced
populations, and the humanitarian workers assisting them, the
deployment could also reduce tensions in eastern Chad caused
by the presence of Sudanese and Chadian rebels on both sides
of the border.

-- We urge EU members to contribute assets accordingly to
share the burden across all member states.

-- The United States remains deeply concerned about the
humanitarian situation in the north-central and northwestern
parts of the country. We take note with concern the increase
of refugees from the CAR to Cameroon from 26,000 in August
2007 to 45,000 in October 2007.

-- The United States remains concerned about human rights
abuses throughout the country, but especially in the
northwestern part around the border with Chad. We call on
the Government of CAR and all armed groups to uphold their
human rights obligations under international law and to hold
accountable perpetrators of human rights abuses.
RICE