Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07STATE167346
2007-12-14 23:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

SOMALIA - INSTRUCTIONS FOR DECEMBER 17 DEBATE

Tags:  UNSC PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT XA XW SO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0000
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


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