GUIDANCE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 016181 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PREL PGOV UNSC SU SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNMIS 19 FEBRUARY 2008 ¶1. PURPOSE: This is an action request. The Department asks USUN to draw upon the following themes for the United Nations (UN) Security Council briefing and consultations on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on 19 February 2008. -We welcome the January 31 report of the Secretary-General on progress in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan and on the activities of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). -We are pleased with progress in some areas, including the return of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement to the Government of National Unity. We also welcome the appointment of Sir Derek Plumbly as the new chairperson of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC),which was established to monitor the implementation of the CPA. -At the same time, however, we remain very concerned about continued challenges to the full implementation of the CPA and the commitment of all parties to cooperate to this effect. We urge all parties to facilitate the full implementation of the CPA. -Today I would like to focus on seven areas where progress must be made. -First, the Sudanese Armed Forces and Sudan People's Liberation Army troops must complete their redeployment away from their respective sides of the north-south border. -Second, the Joint Integrated Units must be properly equipped and train together in order to become truly integrated. We welcome the creation by UNMIS of a Joint Integrated Unit Support Cell as a first step towards more substantial progress, and we expect strong engagement by UNMIS in pushing for results. The parties, especially the government, must demonstrate a willingness to work together and accept the UN Support Cell's role. -Third, the Abyei question must be resolved and the north-south border must be demarcated. We welcome intensive monitoring by UNMIS in the area of Abyei and any further facilitation of progress on these issues. -Fourth, significant progress for the elections must take place, including passing of an electoral law and implementing a national census. We continue to be concerned that the national census is behind schedule because of delaying tactics by both sides. It must not be delayed yet again beyond its current tardy date for implementation in April. -Fifth, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants must be promoted. We welcome UNMIS's effort to step up its engagement with the Northern and Southern Commissions on DDR and its work with them to prepare a framework for UN support for DDR. We look forward to implementation of such a framework. More funding from both the Sudanese and international community is needed for real progress to be made. -Sixth, we urge all parties to cooperate fully with the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, established to monitor CPA implementation, on all matters related with this purpose. -Finally, all parties must facilitate UNMIS in fulfilling its mandate. We are concerned that UNMIS's movement was restricted in October and November and expect that all parties allow its full freedom of movement as this is essential to the implementation of its mandate. -We appreciate UNMIS' provision of good offices, monitoring in a wide range of important areas, and other support for CPA implementation. However, we welcome any efforts by UNMIS to more proactively facilitate the implementation of the CPA. We encourage UNMIS to do its utmost, within the limits of its mandate, to facilitate the implementation of the CPA. We look forward to the Secretary General's report in April on how UNMIS may most effectively support CPA implementation, but we believe the current mandate allows for much more engagement by UNMIS. -We also welcome UNMIS's continued efforts to support the United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the Joint Mediation Support Team for Darfur. We see peace in Darfur as linked to peace between the north and south in Sudan and urge any cooperation towards these ends. STATE 00016181 002 OF 002 ¶2. POINT OF CONTACT: Grace M. Kang, IO/PSC, 202-736-7735. ¶3. BACKGROUND: The Department remains concerned about implementation of the CPA. A reversion to conflict between north and south would have devastating consequences for Darfur and Sudan as a whole. We want to encourage the Security Council and members of the international community to maintain focus on CPA implementation. RICE