GUIDANCE FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON

UNCLAS STATE 036015 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CD KPKO PGOV PREL UNSC SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON MINURCAT PURPOSE: This is an action request. The Department asks that USUN draw upon the following points for the United Nations Security Council briefing and consultations on the MINURCAT Operation in Chad and the Central African Republic on April 9th. - We welcome the SYG's report on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). We are pleased to see the significant progress that has been made on the deployment of the European Union Force (EUFOR) as well as the signing of the Status of Mission Agreement for MINURCAT. We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation as well as the continued potential for cross-border insecurity. Today, I wish to discuss both of these concerns. -------------- EUFOR/MINURCAT DEPLOYMENT -------------- - We welcome MINURCAT's progress toward deployment, including the signing of the Status of Mission Agreement and the agreement on the payment of the Chadian police. We urge MINURCAT to complete its deployment as quickly as possible so that it can fulfill its crucial humanitarian mission. - We are pleased that the first group of Chadian police officers, with the assistance of MINURCAT, is preparing to assume its duties in eastern Chad; it is our hope that these officers can begin to take on their vital mission of protecting civilians by the beginning of the rainy season. - We regret the death of a French EUFOR soldier on March 3. - We welcome the progress that has been made on EUFOR deployment, and are pleased that it reached initial operating capability on March 15. - We support MINURCAT in its humanitarian mission to train and assist Chadian National police to better protect refugees, internally displaced and other vulnerable populations in eastern Chad. We are pleased to announce that we are also providing direct support to the Chadian National Police for this essential humanitarian mission. We are contributing USD 2,000,000 in bi-lateral funding for the training of the Chadian police. -------------- SECURITY SITUATION -------------- - This humanitarian mission is jeopardized by continued fighting in the region, which threatens to displace even more vulnerable civilians. - We welcome the signing of the Dakar Accord by the Governments of Chad and Sudan and their pledge to end support for each other's rebel groups. We urge both Chad and Sudan to implement their agreement promptly and fully. - We call on Chad and Sudan to immediately stop any actions that may violate the sovereignty of the other or escalate tensions along the border. We urge the international community to assist Chad and Sudan in implementing this agreement, under the terms established in the Dakar Accord. RICE