SOMALIA - November 24 Joint Security Committee Communique

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002673 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/E AND A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA - November 24 Joint Security Committee Communique -------------- Summary and Comment -------------- ¶1. (U) Summary and Comment: At the conclusion of their November 20-24 talks in Naivasha, Kenya, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) Joint Security Committee (JSC) issued a communique, the text of which appears in paragraph 3. The JSC agreed to set up joint offices in Somalia, conduct ceasefire monitoring, and form a combined police force. According to contacts at the UN Political Office for Somalia, the JSC also agreed on a working document and budget to present to donors possibly as early as November 28. The working document reportedly will propose combining roughly 2,700 newly-trained TFG police with an additional yet-to-be-trained 2,700+ ARS police. ¶2. (SBU) Members of the JSC told us they were proud of this latest successful round of talks and they look forward to continuing their work together as soon as possible in Somalia. An UNPOS contact involved in the meeting expressed satisfaction with the outcome, but noted that donors will have to deal with financial accountability problems that have prevented recent salary payments to the Ugandan trained TFG police. United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) staff will recommend to the Secretary General's Special Representative for Somalia (SRSG) that he approache Arab countries to fund security forces' salaries. The results of this JSC meeting, coupled with a groundbreaking session of the High Level Committee in Djibouti (septel) represent significant and positive progress on the Djibouti Process. End summary and comment. -------------- Text of Joint Security Committee Communique -------------- ¶3. (U) Begin Text: JOINT SECURITY COMMITTEE COMMUNIQUE 24TH November, 2008 -- The Joint Security Committee met in Naivasha 20 - 24 November 2008 under the auspices of the United Nations, the African Union (AMSIOM) and with the support of international security experts. -- The Parties reaffirmed their commitment to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law in respect to civilian protection and human rights. The Cessation of Hostilities -- The Parties reaffirmed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of 26 October and agreed to continue to work to its speedy implementation; -- The Parties established a Cessation of Hostilities Supervisory Committee which shall undertake further planning and develop detailed proposals to strengthen the Agreement and which shall report to the Joint Security Committee, which in turn shall report to their leadership through the High Level Committee; -- The Parties called on all Somalis to actively support the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities and the peace-making process and reiterated their view that all armed groups and Somali communities should join both the process and structures being established to develop peace and reconciliation in Somalia. The Joint Security Committee (JSC) -- The Parties developed detailed proposals to strengthen the Joint Security Committee, including the establishment of JSC headquarters and liaison offices; -- The Parties agreed that the JSC shall in addition to fulfilling its mandate have supervisory and advisory roles to the transitional security forces of Somalia, including the Somali Police Force; -- The Parties established Working Groups that developed further detailed planning regarding the functions and responsibilities of the JSC, the development of a full ceasefire and the establishment of a Verification and Monitoring Mission (VMM),the integration and realignment of the Somali Police Force and the integration and NAIROBI 00002673 002 OF 002 strengthening of transitional security forces of Somalia. The Verification and Monitoring Mission (VMM) -- The Parties agreed to establish a Verification and Monitoring Mission and commenced planning for its establishment; -- The Parties agreed to the framework for the Verification and Monitoring Mission; -- The Purpose of the VMM shall be to promote a full ceasefire in Somalia; -- The Parties agreed to commence discussions with the international community with regard to the role of Third parties in the VMM, specifically concerning the role and support of the United Nations, the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and the Arab League. The Somali Police Force -- The Parties established a joint working group for the integration and the realignment of the Somali Police Force; -- The Parties agreed that the Somali Police Force is a national police operating under the rule of law for the protections of civilians and human rights and within the Somali Police Force rules and regulations; -- The Parties agreed that recruitment be open to all Somali men and women willing to apply for selection; -- The Parties agreed to accelerate the recruitment and training of new candidates for the Somali Police Force; -- The Parties agreed that the Somali Police Force will have a unified command. The Transitional Security Forces -- The Parties agreed to develop detailed plans for the establishment of interim joint security forces and command structures in support of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement; -- These interim joint security forces and command structures will operate under the authority of the Joint Security Committee and will act in support of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. The Parties thanked the United Nations, the African Union (AMSIOM) and the international security experts facilitating the meeting and requests the International Community to provide the necessary assistance, both technical and financial, required to implement the measures agreed upon. /Signed/ Colonel Omar Hashi Chairman, ARS-JSC /Signed/ Hon. Mohamed Mohamua Haid Chairman, TFG-JSC. End text. RANNEBERGER