SOMALIA - INSTRUCTIONS FOR DECEMBER 17 DEBATE

UNCLAS STATE 167346 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT XA XW SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - INSTRUCTIONS FOR DECEMBER 17 DEBATE ¶1. This is an action cable. Please see paragraph 2. ¶2. USUN is requested to draw from the following points for the December 17 debate on Somalia Begin text: -- We thank UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah for his insightful SIPDIS briefing this afternoon. -- The United States welcomes the appointment of Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein as the new Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). We hope the TFG can now focus on renewing its efforts towards inclusive political dialogue and resuming the comprehensive political process outlined by the TFG Charter. -- We hope Prime Minister Hussein will draw on his humanitarian background in helping to address the needs of Somalia's nearly one million displaced persons and in working to alleviate current impediments to effective delivery of U.S. and other international humanitarian aid. -- We urge the TFG to move quickly to facilitate the drafting of a new constitution and formation of key commissions, such as the National Electoral Commission, that will allow national elections to take place on schedule in 2009. -- We also continue to call on Somali stakeholders across the political spectrum to re-join the political dialogue process and discuss key elements of the transitional political process leading towards national elections in 2009. -- In Fiscal Year 2007, the United States continued to respond to the humanitarian needs of the Somali people and supported continued political dialogue in Somalia. The United States was the largest bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance, with approximately $90 million provided in FY 2007, an additional $25 million in development and democracy assistance, and we continue to be the largest bilateral donor in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), with nearly $59.6 million provided to date in support of this effort. -- In moving forward with implementation of the Congress outcomes and the transitional process, it is important that all transitional committees appointed by the TFG are fully inclusive of all key stakeholders, including those who may not have participated in the Congress. -- We call on all Somali and regional actors to prevent extremist elements from using Somalia as a safe haven for continued attacks against civilians, the TFG, and AMISOM. The United States has repeatedly urged the TFG leadership to reach out to key stakeholders, particularly in Mogadishu, to resume the transitional political process and work towards an effective ceasefire arrangement as the best means of isolating extremist elements seeking to prevent further political dialogue. -- The United States commends AMISOM, and in particular the Ugandan forces, for their efforts in Somalia operating under difficult and dangerous circumstances. We welcome the commitment by Burundi, Ghana, and Nigeria to deploy forces in support of AMISOM. We urge all AU Member States that have pledged to send troops to Somalia to do so without delay, and we urge the international community to assist the AU with the necessary logistical and financial resources so that AMISOM may be fully deployed. -- The United States continues to support the full and timely deployment of AMISOM as a critical component in restoring stability and creating the space for continued dialogue and reconciliation. -- The United States once again would like to stress the need for contingency planning for a UN peacekeeping operation to Somalia. We ask that the DPKO send a technical assessment mission to Somalia as soon as conditions allow. As we all know, dynamics in Somalia are fluid and can change at any time - we must begin the contingency planning now so that the UN is prepared to deploy if and when conditions on the ground permit. -- The United States remains concerned about the increase in piracy off the coast of Somalia. We commend our partners in the Combined Task Force 150 that continue to patrol the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean to protect the safe passage of merchant ships, especially ships carrying humanitarian cargo. -- The U.S. supports the July 5 letter from the IMO Secretary General Mitropoulos to the SYG on the need for a new Security Council resolution to address the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The U.S.looks forward to working with other members of the Council on this issue next year. -- The United States is gravely concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, especially in south-central Somalia. We will continue monitoring the humanitarian situation and welcome continued close coordination and cooperation with the UN Country Team and our donor partners in Nairobi to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need inside Somalia. RICE