UNSC/SUDAN: NO CLEAR SUPPORT FOR 3-MONTH UNMIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000317 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO SUBJECT: UNSC/SUDAN: NO CLEAR SUPPORT FOR 3-MONTH UNMIS MANDATE EXTENSION REF: SECSTATE 53362 USUN NEW Y 00000317 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Taye Brook-Zerihoun briefed the SIPDIS United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at April 23 consultations on the status of the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and on implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Zerihoun stressed as priorities completion of the CPA security protocol by July 9, establishment of administration in Abyei, and preparations for 2009 elections. Zerihoun called the problem of Darfur an integral part of the problems of Sudan and hoped for a political solution in Darfur, an end to violence and attacks against humanitarian workers, and disarmament of the janjaweed. Zerihoun offered no elucidation on the question of appointment of an UNMIS SRSG, saying it was an SYG prerogative. Sudanese and Qatari representatives confirmed that SYG Ban was meeting a high-level Sudanese delegation in Doha April 23. Ambassador Sanders called for progress on Darfur peacekeeping as a way of maintaining CPA integrity and introduced our draft resolution for extending UNMIS' mandate (reftel). Members by and large favored the SYG's recommendation for a six-month mandate extension. The first Experts Meeting on the draft text will be April 24, with a view to adoption on April 27. END SUMMARY. MODEST PROGRESS IN CPA IMPLEMENTATION -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Acting UNMIS SRSG Taye Brook-Zerihoun briefed the UNSC at April 23 consultations on the status of the Mission and on implementation of the CPA. Zerihoun warned that the changing roles of key actors in the peace process have complicated the already difficult process of CPA implementation, but he noted some progress: establishment of almost all power-sharing commissions, the functioning of the National Petroleum Commission and the launching of the new Sudanese currency under wealth-sharing agreements, and the modest steps toward economic development in Southern Sudan. On security issues, Zerihoun said the cease-fire had been respected in the wake of the November violence in Malakal, suggesting that the Cease-fire Joint Monitoring Commission had been instrumental in preventing conflict escalation. Finally, Zerihoun commended the efforts of UN Special Envoy of the SYG for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)-affected areas Joaquim Chissano in improving prospects for the resumption of high-level talks with the LRA, adding that LRA attacks in southern Sudan were down. BUT HURDLES REMAIN -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Zerihoun was concerned that full formation of Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) was still behind the schedule laid out in the CPA, carrying potential consequences for the "full and verified redeployment" of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) by the CPA's July 9 deadline, since SPLA redeployment would be through JIUs. Zerihoun warned about the continued existence of Other Armed Groups (OAGs) in Southern Sudan, despite established deadlines for their disbandment. OAGs were also facing Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) challenges, he added. Zerihoun said that the North-South border demarcation was lagging and that there was still no agreement on Abyei boundaries, despite the commencement of the work of a technical team on the ground. Zerihoun reported that the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) was still intact, despite the perception that it represented more a deal between the Sudanese Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Government of the State of Eritrea than it did between the GNU and the rebel Eastern Front. Zerihoun noted residual resentment by the Beja Congress in Kassala and Port Sudan at having been excluded from ESPA negotiations. Finally, Zerihoun reported that UNMIS was still subject to GNU restrictions, particularly in Sector VI of its Area of Operations, impacting on demining activities. ¶5. (SBU) Zerihoun stressed as priorities completion of the security protocol by July 9, establishment of Abyei administration and development of Southern Kordofan and Blue USUN NEW Y 00000317 002.2 OF 003 Nile States, and preparations for 2009 elections, including passage of the requisite electoral law, groundwork for the national census in November, subsequent voter registration and a re-engagement of political parties with their constituencies. In a meeting of troop- and police-contributing countries immediately prior to consultations, Zerihoun remarked that census preparations were hampered by lack of refugee and internally displaced person returns. DARFUR DRAINING UNMIS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Such returns, according to Zerihoun, were but one illustration of the effect of the Darfur crisis on UNMIS. Declaring that peace in Sudan was "indivisible," Zerihoun hoped for a political solution to the Darfur crisis, an end to violence and attacks against humanitarian workers, and disarmament of the janjaweed by the end of the year to counteract the drain the Darfur conflict was causing on UNMIS time, effort and resources, particularly the mission support aspect, which had forced a re-prioritization in Southern Sudan. Zerihoun also predicted that deployment of the Heavy Support Package (HSP) would similarly strain the UNMIS budget but recognized the drain overall as a necessary one. "If Darfur is not pacified or is not at peace," Zerihoun explained, "then national elections will be only partial or will not be possible at all." ¶7. (SBU) Zerihoun offered no elucidation on the question of appointment of an UNMIS SRSG, saying only that it was an SYG prerogative. He called the hybrid operation "the ultimate objective" of Darfur peacekeeping and told Members to expect the hybrid to be finalized by the UN and the African Union (AU) within the next two weeks, at which time the plan would be presented simultaneously to the UNSC and the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC),as well as to the GNU for a "comprehensive briefing." While acknowledging that GNU consent and AU PSC endorsement were necessary for hybrid implementation as a practical matter, Zerihoun spoke to the need for clarity on command and control structures and on accountability mechanisms. MEMBERS WANT 6 MONTHS FOR UNMIS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) In her intervention, Ambassador Sanders called for progress on Darfur peacekeeping as a way of maintaining CPA integrity and introduced our draft resolution for extending UNMIS' mandate (reftel). Members by and large favored the SYG's recommendation for a six-month mandate extension for UNMIS' mandate renewal (set to expire April 30). Members, including France and the UK, told Poloff privately that to do otherwise, as our draft suggested, would give the impression that the UNSC's commitment to supporting the fragile CPA was fading. Members also feared the linking of the expiration of the AMIS and UNMIS mandates (AMIS on June 30, UNMIS as we proposed on July 31),which would increase the pressure by Africans for UN funding of AMIS, regardless of hybrid progress. Members expressed a general sense that renewing mandates for shorter periods of time would involve more UN bureaucratic procedures and complications for troop-contributing countries. Russian and Chinese delegates questioned Poloff privately about the proposed three-month extension. Italy and Belgium have also voiced concerns. The first Experts Meeting on the draft text will be April 24, with a view to April 27 adoption. ¶9. (SBU) A Qatari political officer told Poloff privately that his delegation could be flexible on the issue of mandate duration. He asked if we planned to invoke any chapter of the UN Charter in the text. He and Sudanese Mission Political Counselor confirmed separately that SYG Ban was meeting a high-level Sudanese delegation in Doha April 23, a meeting the Sudanese rep called "constructive." The Sudanese delegate also told Poloff that the meeting between Eritrean President Isaias and President Bashir on reconciling Sudanese rebels had gone well. Chadian President Deby was expected in Khartoum in the coming week, according to the Sudanese officer. USUN NEW Y 00000317 003.2 OF 003 KHALILZAD