Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE126443
2008-12-01 19:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

INSTRUCTIONS ON DECEMBER 3 CONSULTATIONS ON

Tags:  PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT 
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VZCZCXRO3327
OO RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #6443/01 3361953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 011947Z DEC 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 4014
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI PRIORITY 1205
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 126443 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON DECEMBER 3 CONSULTATIONS ON
BONUCA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 126443

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON DECEMBER 3 CONSULTATIONS ON
BONUCA


1. ACTION REQUEST: USUN is instructed to draw from talking
points in para 2 below during December 2 consultations on the
UN Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic
(BONUCA). End action request.


2. Begin points:

The United States strongly supports Special Envoy Francois
Lonseny Fall,s efforts to build peace and security in the
Central African Republic (CAR),and thanks the Secretary
General for his report to the Council on UN activities during
the last six months. Today, I would like to make three
points.

First, the Secretary General,s report notes a recent UN
inter-agency assessment indicating the need to develop UN
joint planning and integrated operations in CAR, under the
leadership of SRSG Fall. We also note the observations of
the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) mission to CAR last month.


We believe that peacebuilding should be an element of all UN
activities in CAR and that an integrated approach with BONUCA
in the lead is essential for UN success. Under the
leadership of SRSG Fall, BONUCA and the country team should
strengthen joint planning and move toward integrated
operations.

We commend Ambassador Grauls for leading the PBC mission to
Central African Republic and for his commitment to
strenghthening political stability in CAR. In our view, as
the political process in CAR advances and the Inclusive
Political Dialogue gets underway, the PBC will play two
important roles. It will shine a spotlight on CAR, bringing
it to the attention of additional donors, and will reinforce
the international community,s message that momentum must
continue on restoring the rule of law, including the
protection of human rights and the transparent management of
natural resources.

Second, we see the next few months as a critical period for
the Central African Republic. The Inclusive Political
Dialogue begins this week (December 5 -22) in Bangui, with
financial support from the Peacebuilding Fund and thanks to
the efforts of BONUCA, the African Union, the Center for
Humanitarian Dialogue, and the Gabonese government. We hope
for full participation by all stakeholders, including all
rebel groups, opposition parties, and civil society. We
expect that the Inclusive Political Dialogue will realize the

June 2008 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and that all
parties, including the government, will take the needed steps
in order to effect peace.

As the Inclusive Political Dialgoue progresses, we note that
it is also important to have dialogue in the field with rebel
units who often are not in contact with their leaders and
with those groups that have splintered off. Of course
political dialogue is by itself not enough. Talks must be
accompanied by assistance for communities who desperately
need basic social services and programs to restore economic
opportunity.

We share the Secretary-General,s concerns about impunity and
repeated violations of human rights in the Central African
Republic. All parties must understand that continued
progress in ending impunity and protecting human rights is a
necessary precondition to expanded international assistance
and to the ultimate success of the government in restoring
basic social services across all regions of the Central
African Republic. In particular, the Central African
government must take action to increase security in
northwestern and north-central CAR, particularly in those
areas in which bandits, also known as zaraguinas or coupers
de route, and the self-defense militias freely operate.

We were pleased by the outcome of the November 18-19
preparatory meetings in Libreville. We hope that UNDP will
facilitate an understanding between the government and the
rebels on a DDR process with agreement on key details such as
areas for cantonment, arrangements for integration into the
community, and options for integration into the security
forces. Any SSR/DDR efforts must include economic and social
development initiatives. We are concerned that absent a
long-term development approach, ex-combatants and military
officials will lapse back into activities that these programs
are meant to address. We also believe impunity and

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compensation for victims must be addressed.

Third, we continue to believe that MINURCAT and a follow-on
force to replace EUFOR should be present in northeastern CAR
to prevent further regional conflict. We encourage BONUCA to
continue to support MINURCAT as it implements its mandate in
northeastern CAR and look forward to learning how BONUCA and
MINURCAT will collaborate. BONUCA should continue to
regularly liaise with MINURCAT on building law enforcement
capacity in northeastern CAR. We urge DPKO and DPA to work
cooperatively to ensure there is an adequately trained and
equipped police presence, supported by the requisite judicial
infrastructure, to provide police protection to the citizens
of CAR. We recognize MINURCAT, BONUCA, and UNHCR efforts to
train security forces thus far and encourage continued
cooperation with MICOPAX, the Central African Economic
Community,s peacekeeping force.

The U.S. is pleased the UN has increased its support to the
Government of CAR, particularly in the areas of rule of law,
security sector reform, and the revitalization of
conflict-affected communities. Despite these efforts, vast
regions of ungoverned or undergoverned territory exist in
CAR, presenting a potential security vacuum; and the lack of
an adequately functioning government places civilians in
jeopardy. We believe it critical that other steps be taken
in CAR to ensure adequate governance and to avoid a
humanitarian crisis. We urge DPA to further incorporate in
its assistance efforts programs to establish good governance
principles and to build capacity to deliver essential
services to the citizens throughout CAR.
RICE