APRIL 16 OPEN DEBATE: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND

UNCLAS STATE 041906 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL SUBJECT: APRIL 16 OPEN DEBATE: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND INTERVENTION ON REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ¶1. This is a action message. See paragraph 2 and 3. ¶2. USUN is requested to deliver the following intervention for the April 16 open debate on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. Begin text: Good morning. I would like to thank President Mbeki and the Republic of South Africa for holding this important debate. Prime Minister Brown - Great Britain Prime Minister Prod - Italy Prime Minister Meles - Ethiopia President Yusuf - Somalia President Kabila - DRC President Kikwete - Tanzania President Museveni - Uganda As President Bush noted upon his return from a recent trip to the region, there have been striking changes in Africa which are the result of a new generation of African leaders - reformers who are determined to steer their nations toward freedom and justice, prosperity and peace. In the past four years alone, there have been more than 50 democratic elections in Africa, and more than two-thirds of sub-Saharan African nations live in freedom. President Bush continues to support democratic transitions in many African countries such as Liberia and Mauritania, strengthening democratic institutions in post-conflict countries, such as the DRC and Burundi, and assisting civil society organizations across Africa in combating gender-based violence, trafficking in persons, and other human rights violations. In FY 2007, the U.S. provided close to $175 million for programs to promote just and democratic governance in African nations. In spite of substantial Continental improvements however, we still face some enormous challenges in Africa. Today, I would like to focus our discussion on one of those challenges: how this Council can cooperate and enhance its relationship with the Continent's regional organizations, specifically, the African Union (AU). With the objective to strengthen the relationship between the UN and the AU, I would like to make three points which highlight three recent crises in Africa. I will close with a statement on the importance of funding AU peacekeeping capacity. Before I begin though, let me state from the outset what we all know: UN peacekeeping is overstretched - in large part as a result of extensive and increasingly complex commitments on the African continent. Sixty-three thousand of the 91,000 UN troops currently deployed are serving in Africa and these numbers will only increase as deployments in support of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur come to fruition. A probable UN operation in Somalia could involve the deployment of thousands more. And the use of violence in Zimbabwe has already created an environment where a free and fair run off is improbable and the international community may be called on to help. The bottom line is that the supply of well-equipped peacekeepers does not meet demand, and we must find ways to use existing resources effectively and efficiently and build capacity -- particularly regional capacity to do more. This will take time - so we must look at both short-term and longer-term solutions. With that in mind, I would like to make four points. First, the UNSC needs to reassess how we plan for and sustain peacekeeping operations. Our peacekeeping operations should be "goal-oriented" in nature, with clearly defined missions, timelines and budgets. Peacekeeping operations should be a means to an end, rather than a substitute for resolving conflicts or an excuse for delay. While we understand the risks of leaving too soon, we should close nonviable peacekeeping operations and adjust downwards as appropriate those that are succeeding to encourage self-reliance and to free forces and funds for where they are needed more, like Darfur, where we are collaborating with the AU to address a dire regional crisis. We continue to call for the immediate and full deployment of UNAMID. The UN and AU must demonstrate that this first example of a hybrid mission improves the overall viability of the mission. As it stands the desirability of it as a precedent remains in question. The Government of Sudan must lift all restrictions to allow for all UNAMID troops and equipment to be deployed. We stress the need for a Chief Negotiator to be announced and accepted by all parties. And, we call on the Presidents of Sudan and Chad to live up to their commitment S made at Dakar. Second, we should support Auk?s efforts to enhance its capacity to plan and execute viable peacekeeping operations. The AU needs to build increased administrative, logistical, and military planning capacities as well as better financial accountability and transparency. To that end, the U.S. has substantial programs to assist these efforts and has provided significant support in the form of logistical support and technical expertise to the African Standby Force, the AU Commission's emerging Strategic Planning and Management Unit, and the Auk?s Situation Room. And the U.S. continues to provide significant logistical capability in support of both UN and AU peacekeeping efforts in Africa through the provision of strategic lift of TCC units into theater, including into Darfur and Somalia. We are prepared to work with the AU and other regional organizations to further enhance their capacity and we call on other countries to step up their bilateral support as well. The UN should prioritize its efforts to help the AU deal with its deficits in financial management and administrative capacities. Improvements in this area will undoubtedly help donor countries explain to their own electorate the rationale for supporting AU missions like AMISOM, where the United States would like to recognize AU efforts to stabilize and improve the security situation in Somalia. Over the last two years the United States has provided over $57 million to support AMISOM and we continue to seek additional resources to support this critical effort. We call on all AU member states to send forces for this important mission and we call on the international community to donate generously so that AMISOM can fully deploy. In addition to AMISOM, we support the Secretary General's call for a credible political process and security presence. The U.S. believes deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation is a critical component of international efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in Somalia. Third, closer UN-AU cooperation. In the realm of peace and security, we applaud the formation of the UNDPKO AU Peace Support Team and its work in the areas of mission planning and the management of logistics and resources. In the area of conflict prevention and mediation the United States is encouraged by the efforts currently underway by the Department of Political Affairs to strengthen AU conflict prevention and mitigation capacities. On humanitarian action, the United States is intrigued by the Secretary General's recommendations of enhancing the Auk?s early warning systems through the development of a multi-risk early warning tool that includes socio-political, natural, human-made, and economic vulnerabilities. Looking to the imminent future, Zimbabwe fits into this category. The United States remains extremely concerned about the situation there. While there were irregularities in the pre-election environment for the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections, including a campaign of state-sponsored violence against the opposition and civil society, it is clear the Zimbabwean people voted overwhelmingly for change. It has been 18 days since the election and the results of the Presidential race still have not been announced. The Zimbabwe Election Committee needs to immediately release the results, which must accurately reflect the will of the people. The government and its supporters must desist immediately from violence and intimidation, act with restraint, respect human rights, and allow the electoral process to continue unfettered. We commend Southern African Development Community (SADC) efforts to address the unfolding crisis. The time has come for the United Nations to support their efforts through a joint mission with the African Union to ensure that the electoral authorities act in conformity with SADC principles for democratic elections, the political violence ceases, and the will of the Zimbabwean people is upheld. And fourth, we must work with AU member states to increase their national peacekeeping capacity. The United States is committed to helping African states increase their capacity through programs such as the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and its Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA). Since 2005, the United States has trained over 34,000 African peacekeepers from 19 countries and has spent $375 million to increase global capacity for peacekeeping operations in Africa and elsewhere. Additionally, we see an opportunity for several African countries to increase their capacity for combined and joint operations by stressing interoperability in equipment, training, and communications and building professional relationships among officers among African neighbors. Steps such as these will enhance overall AU peacekeeping capacity. In Conclusion: Funding for AU peacekeeping capacities is important. The United States is well aware of the financial shortfalls the AU faces, especially in peacekeeping missions. This is why we have given so much to AMISOM and to AMIS. We welcome the exploration of ways to address the financing challenges faced by regional peacekeepers. In this regard, we support the establishment of a panel of distinguished persons from the African Union, United Nations and other relevant stakeholders to seek alternative, cost-effective means of financial support, such as the establishment of a trust fund or enhanced donor coordination. I'd like to thank President Mbeki and South Africa for their leadership in convening this important debate today. We understand and appreciate South Africa's interest in keeping Council attention focused on Africa and in developing a more effective working relationship between the UN and AU. Thank you. end text ¶3. USUN is instructed to join consensus on the draft Security Council Resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. Begin text: The Security Council, Reaffirming all its previous resolutions and presidential statements on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular resolutions 1625 (2005) of 14 September 2005, and 1631 (2005) of 17 October 2005, S/PRST/2004/27 of 20 July 2004, S/PRST/2004/44 of 19 November 2004, S/PRST/2007/7 of 28 March 2007, S/PRST/2007/31 of 28 August 2007 and S/PRST/2007/42 of 6 November 2007, Also reaffirming its resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 and 1674 (2006) of 28 April 2006, Recalling its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and recognizing that cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in matters relating to the maintenance of peace and security and consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, can improve collective security, Welcoming the role of the African Union in efforts to settle conflicts in the African Continent and expressing its support for the peace initiatives conducted by the African Union, and through subregional organizations, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the role of the United Nations in the prevention of armed conflicts, and stressing utility of developing effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union, in order to enable early responses to disputes and emerging crises in Africa, and in this regard noting with interest the Secretary-General's proposal of conducting joint reviews SIPDIS by the United Nations and regional organizations of the state of peace and security and of mediation endeavours, particularly in Africa where joint mediation is being undertaken, Recognizing that regional organizations are well positioned to understand the root causes of armed conflicts owing to their knowledge of the region which can be a benefit for their efforts to influence the prevention or resolution of these conflicts, Stressing the importance of further strengthening cooperation with the African Union in order to assist building its capacity to deal with common collective security challenges in Africa, including through the African Union's commitment of rapid and appropriate responses to emerging crises situations, and the development of effective strategies for conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, Recalling the resolve of Heads of State and Government of the 2005 World Summit to expand, as appropriate, the involvement of regional organizations in the work of the Security Council, and to ensure that regional organizations that have a capacity for the prevention of armed conflict or peacekeeping consider the option of placing such capacity in the framework of the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, Recognizing the importance of strengthening the capacity of regional and subregional organizations in conflict prevention and crisis management, and in post-conflict stabilization, Taking note of lessons learned from practical cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, in particular the transition from the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB) to the United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB) and the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Acknowledging the contribution of the United Nations Liaison Office in Addis Ababa in strengthening coordination and cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, as well as the need to consolidate it so as to enhance its performance, Recognizing that regional organizations are well positioned to understand the root causes of armed conflicts owing to their knowledge of the region which can be a benefit for their efforts to influence the prevention or resolution of these conflicts, Further recognizing that regional organizations have the primary role in securing human, financial, logistical, and other resources for their organizations, including through obtaining contributions by their members and soliciting contributions from donors to fund their operations, Taking note of both the report of the Secretary-General on the relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union, in the maintenance of international peace and security -((S/2008/186) and the report of the Secretary-General on conflict prevention, particularly in Africa -(S/2008/18), ¶1. Expresses its determination to take effective steps to further enhance the relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter; ¶2. Encourages the continuing involvement of regional and subregional organizations in the peaceful settlement of disputes, including through conflict prevention, confidence-building and mediation efforts; ¶3. Welcomes regional dialogue and the promotion of shared experiences as well as common regional approaches to the settlement of disputes and other issues relating to peace and security; ¶4. Welcomes and further encourages the ongoing efforts of the African Union and the subregional organizations to strengthen their peacekeeping capacity and to undertake peacekeeping operations in the continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and to coordinate with the United Nations, through the Peace and Security Council, as well as ongoing efforts to develop a continental early warning system, response capacity such as the African Standby Force and enhanced mediation capacity, including through the Panel of the Wise; ¶5. Welcomes recent developments regarding cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union, including the contribution of the European Union to the enhancement of African Union capacities; ¶6. Encourages regional and subregional organizations to strengthen and increase cooperation among them, in particular cooperation between the African Union (AU), Organization of American States (OAS),Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and European Union (EU), including efforts to enhance their respective capacities, in the maintenance of international peace and security; ¶7. Expresses its determination to strengthen and make more effective its cooperation with relevant organs of regional organizations, in particular the African Union Peace and Security Council; ¶8. Expresses its determination to strengthen and enhance cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union, in conflict prevention, resolution and management including good offices, mediation support, effective use of sanctions as mandated by the Security Council, electoral assistance, and preventive field presence; and in the case of Africa, focusing on the support to the African Union Panel of the Wise among others; ¶9. Stresses that common and coordinated efforts undertaken by the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union in matters of peace and security, should be based on their complimentary capacities, making full use of their experience in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the relevant Statutes of the regional organizations; ¶10. Underlines the importance of the implementation of the Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme for the African Union mainly focusing on peace and security, in particular the operationalization of the African Union Standby Force; ¶11. Encourages the increased engagement of the African Union Peacekeeping Support Team within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as a coordinating point, aimed at providing necessary expertise and transfer of technical knowledge to enhance the capacity of the African Union's Peace Support Operations Divisions including in mission planning and management, as well as the deployment of the Department of Political Affairs' staff to work with the African Union on the operationalization of the Panel of the Wise and other mediation programmes; ¶12. Calls on the Secretariat in coordination with the African Union Commission to develop a list of needed capacities and recommendations on ways the African Union can further develop military, technical, logistic and administrative capabilities; ¶13. Encourages closer cooperation between the United Nations Secretariat and the African Union Commission, including through supporting regular follow-up missions by United Nations Secretariat staff to African Union headquarters to provide further assistance, and share experiences; ¶14. Expresses its determination to further consider how to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations in the prevention of armed conflict, particularly in Africa; ¶15. Recognizes the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General in Africa, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to use mediation as often as SIPDIS possible to help resolve conflicts peacefully, working in coordination and closely with the African Union and other subregional organizations in that regard, as appropriate; ¶16. Recognizing that UN assessed contributions are not a viable option for funding regional organizations. ¶17. Further recognizing the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing regional organizations when they undertake peacekeeping under a United Nations mandate, welcomes the Secretary-General's proposal to set up within three months SIPDIS an African Union-United Nations panel consisting of distinguished persons to consider in-depth the modalities of how to support such peacekeeping operations, in particular start-up funding, equipment and logistics and to consider in-depth lessons from past and current African Union peacekeeping efforts; ¶18. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his regular reporting to the Security Council, assessments of progress on the cooperation between the United Nations and relevant regional organizations; ¶19. Decides to remain seized of the matter. End text RICE