VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: MINURCAT RENEWAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 101873 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PREF PREL UNSC CD CT SU SUBJECT: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: MINURCAT RENEWAL ¶1. (SBU) Action Request: USUN is instructed to vote in favor of and to co-sponsor the Security Council Resolution contained in paragraph 2 below authorizing the extension of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). USUN should seek additional guidance if substantive changes are made to the resolution prior to the vote. USUN is authorized to deliver the explanation of vote contained in paragraph 3 below if appropriate. In the event the resolution is adopted as a Presidential text without explanation of vote from any other country, USUN should provide the points in paragraph 3 to the press immediately following adoption of the resolution. End Action Request. ¶2. (U) Begin text of draft resolution: The Security Council, Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its president concerning Chad, the Central African Republic and the subregion, including resolution 1778 (2007) and its resolutions 1769 (2007) and 1828 (2008), Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and political independence of Chad and the Central African Republic, and to the cause of peace in the region, Reiterating its concern at the humanitarian and security repercussions in eastern Chad and the northeastern Central African Republic of the ongoing violence in Darfur, Deeply concerned at the activities of armed groups and other attacks in eastern Chad, the north-eastern Central African Republic and western Sudan which threaten the security of the civilian population, the conduct of humanitarian operations in those areas and the stability of those countries, and which result in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, Stressing that a proper settlement of the Darfur issue and an improvement of relations between Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic will contribute to long term peace and stability in the region, Reiterating its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and of the African Union, through their joint Chief Mediator Mr Djibril Yipene Bassole, to revive the peace process begun by the Darfur Peace Agreement, consolidate the ceasefire and reinforce the peacekeeping presence in Darfur, Reaffirming that any attempt at destabilization through violent means or seizing power by force is unacceptable, Reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on women, peace and security, 1502 (2003) on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel, and 1674 (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Reaffirming its resolution 1612 (2005) on children in armed conflict, taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Chad S/2008/532) and the recommendations therein, and recalling the conclusions regarding Chad adopted by its Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict S/AC.51/2007/16), Recognizing that the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic bear primary responsibility for ensuring the security of civilians in their territories, Bearing in mind the Convention relating to the Status of refugees of 28 July 1951 and its additional protocol of 16 December 1966, along with the 1969 Convention of the Organization of African Unity governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa, Emphasizing the need to respect international refugee law, preserve the civilian and humanitarian nature of the refugee camps and internally displaced persons sites and prevent any recruitment of individuals, including children, which might be carried out in or around the camps by armed groups, STATE 00101873 002 OF 003 Welcoming the deployment by the European Union of its operation in eastern Chad and Central African Republic (EUFOR Chad/CAR),noting that the EU declared the initial operational capacity of the operation on 15 March 2008, and recalling that according to resolution 1778 the mandate of EUFOR Chad/CAR therefore runs until 15 March 2009, Welcoming the selection and training by MINURCAT of the first group of police and gendarmerie officers of the Detachement Integre de Securite (DIS, previously referred to as Police Tchadienne pour la Protection Humanitaire),and stressing the need to expedite the deployment of the DIS, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General S/2008/601) of 12 September 2008 and its recommendations on the arrangements for following up EUFOR Chad/CAR at the end of its mandate, Determining that the situation in the region of the border between the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic constitutes a threat to international peace and security, ¶1. Decides to extend until 15 March 2009 the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT),as set out in resolution 1778; ¶2. Calls on the Secretary-General to complete MINURCAT's deployment as soon as possible, and the Government of Chad, with the support of MINURCAT according to its mandate, to carry out the full deployment of the DIS expeditiously; ¶3. Invites donors to continue to contribute to the MINURCAT trust fund, established to support the DIS; ¶4. Expresses its intention to extend beyond the date referred to in paragraph 1 the multidimensional presence established in Chad and the Central African Republic to help create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons and, to this end, expresses its intention to authorize the deployment of a United Nations military component to follow up EUFOR Chad/CAR in both Chad and the Central African Republic, taking fully into account the recommendations contained within the Secretary-General's report referred to in paragraph 6 and in consultation with the Governments of these countries, ¶5. Requests the Secretary-General, in close cooperation with the European Union, to continue planning and initiate the force generation and logistical, administrative, financial and other necessary arrangements with a view to a transfer of authority, including in the north-eastern Central African Republic, between EUFOR and the UN military component referred to in paragraph 4 on 15 March 2009, subject to a new decision of the Security Council; ¶6. Encourages the Governments of Chad and the Central African Republic to continue to cooperate with the UN and the EU to facilitate the smooth transition from EUFOR to the United Nations military component; ¶7. Encourages troop contributing countries to pledge the necessary force requirements and in particular the helicopters, reconnaissance units, engineers, logistics and medical facilities; ¶8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a new report by 15 November 2008 on the progress towards the full deployment of MINURCAT and the DIS and on updating the planning and conducting preparations referred to in paragraph 4 and 5, including options on the size, structure and mandate of the proposed UN military presence in the north-eastern Central African Republic to take over EUFOR's presence; ¶9. Requests him to also continue to report regularly, and at least every three months, on the security and humanitarian situation, including movements of refugees and internally displaced persons, in eastern Chad, the north-eastern Central African Republic and the region, on progress towards the objective of helping to create the security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and displaced STATE 00101873 003 OF 003 persons and on the implementation of the mandate of MINURCAT; ¶10. Expresses its intention to adopt the decision referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 by 15 December 2008; ¶11. Encourages the respective Governments of the Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic to ensure that their territories are not used to undermine the sovereignty of others and to cooperate actively with a view to implementing the Dakar Accord of 13 March 2008 and previous agreements, and to cooperate with a view to putting an end to the activities of armed groups in the region and their attempts to seize power by force, looks forward to the implementation of the commitment of Sudan and Chad to restore diplomatic ties with a view to fully normalizing their relations, and welcomes the role played in particular by the regional Contact Group, the Governments of Libya and the Republic of Congo as African co-mediators, as well as the African Union and the United Nations, including through the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, head of MINURCAT, in support of the Dakar process, ¶12. Demands that armed groups cease violence immediately and urges all parties in Chad and the Central African Republic, respectively, to respect and implement the Sirte agreement of 25 October 2007 and the comprehensive peace agreement signed in Libreville on 21 June 2008, ¶13. Encourages the authorities and political stakeholders in Chad and the Central African Republic to continue to pursue their efforts of national dialogue, with respect for the constitutional frameworks, noting the positive efforts by the Government of Gabon to support a national dialogue in the Central African Republic, emphasizes also the importance of the political agreement for the reinforcement of the democratic process signed in Ndjamena on 13 August 2007 and encourages the parties to proceed with its implementation. ¶14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. ¶3. (U) The United States welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution XXXX to extend the mandate of MINURCAT for one year. The vote represents the Council's support and respect for UN peacekeepers working to sustain stability and ensure the protection of all refugees and internally displaced persons within central Africa. It also demonstrates the Council's continuing commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1778 and the achievement of peace and security in the region. (U) The goal of this resolution is to extend the mandate of MINURCAT until such time as the Secretariat has informed the Council that a UN force is fully prepared to replace the existing EUFOR operation. It is crucial that the mission continue in its present form until the Council has determined that an adequately equipped and trained security force is ready to assume the full responsibilities of providing security in the designated areas. (U) We commend the continued progress that has been achieved since the adoption of Resolution 1778 last year. We welcome the continuing efforts of the Central African Republic and Chad to strengthen the rule of law and protection of refugees and internally displaced persons within their respective borders, as well as their demonstrated commitment, to the achievement of the objectives of Resolution 1778. RICE