GUIDANCE FOR UNMIS CONSULTATIONS

UNCLAS STATE 043114 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PGOV PREL UNSC SU SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR UNMIS CONSULTATIONS ¶1. USUN is requested to draw on the following points for the UN Security Council briefing and consultations on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS),scheduled for April 24. We welcome the Secretary General's report on UNMIS. We appreciate the efforts of UN personnel and troop contributors to make this crucial operation work, despite the difficult operating environment. We believe it is critical that UNMIS succeed in its mission to help the Sudanese implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). We note that the CPA ended a two decades long conflict that left two million dead and four million displaced and we believe that the full, rigorous, and effective implementation of the CPA is the cornerstone for any enduring peace in Sudan. With that in mind, I would like to make four points: First, we urge both parties, the National Congress Party and Sudan People's Liberation Movement, to resolve the situation in Abyei. We are concerned about rising tensions in the area between some Misseriya elements and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. We welcome UNMIS' good offices and peacekeeping activities in support of this endeavor. We urge progress on North-South border demarcation to facilitate a long-term solution to the crisis. And we take note of the Secretary General's recommendation that UNMIS be authorized SIPDIS to provide technical assistance to the border demarcation process. -- We urge both parties to redeploy their troops from the border immediately to reduce the risk of a return to violence. Second, we welcome the conduct of the census in Sudan which is an important milestone in the implementation of the CPA, and urge all citizens to participate. We call on all parties to do their utmost to ensure the comprehensive, peaceful and safe conduct of the census. We urge the Government of Sudan and the Government of Southern Sudan to facilitate the orderly conduct of the census in all parts of Sudan. -- We also look forward to the 2009 elections in Sudan, and welcome UNMIS' assistance with elections preparation, in consultation with the government of Sudan and in accordance with UNMIS' mandate. We urge our international partners to join us in the provision of election assistance. Third, the CPA is essential to peace throughout Sudan, including Darfur. The ongoing violence in Darfur threatens to undermine the CPA. We call upon the Government of Sudan to facilitate the rapid and complete deployment of UNAMID, and to urge all parties to the conflict to participate in the peace process in Darfur. We urge all parties, particularly the rebel groups, to cease attacks on humanitarian convoys. Finally, we want to emphasize the importance of UNMIS' continued effective operations. Important positions such as the Deputy SRSG or the Force Commander must not remain vacant for any length of time. We support the Secretariat's efforts to fill any vacancies promptly with the most capable leaders. RICE